NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS FRI 13/1/06 Heavy rain turned to wet snow during the morning above 1000 metres on strong Southerly winds. In the thaw the snowpack is consolidating, but some instabilities were observed in tests on a North-East aspect at 1160 metres. The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SAT 14/1/06 Substantial snowfall overnight on moderate Westerly winds will clear to leave a dry day. New snow will build on Northerly through East to South-East aspects above 600 metres. Instabilities will exist mainly on steep slopes, crag aprons and gully heads where the deepest accumulations will form. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable Category 3. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Patches of soft wet snow above 1000 metres. ICING: Thawing at the moment but will begin to re-freeze overnight. COMMENT: Another survival day today, dry with light winds tomorrow. LOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS FRI 13/1/06 Heavy rain over the past 24 hours has helped to deplete and stabilise the existing snowpack. The avalanche hazard is Low (Category 1). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SAT 14/1/06 Colder temperatures and snow showers are expected overnight followed by drier conditions during Saturday. Fresh areas of unstable windslab will form on slopes sheltered from the Westerly winds. Main accumulations will be at the tops of North-East, East and South-East aspects above 900m, notably where it overlies old snow deposits. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Wet snow at all levels. ICING: Freezing level lowering to around 900m on Friday evening. COMMENT: Looks like a nice day on Saturday at last. GLENCOE AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS FRI 13/1/06 Mild and wet conditions have reduced the snow cover at all levels. Remaining snow is now mainly to be found in the highest North and East facing corries. The avalanche hazard is Low (Category 1). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SAT 14/1/06 Cooler conditions on Friday night will give new snow above 800 metres. Fresh winds initially from the West backing Southerly by morning will form localised areas of unstable windslab mainly around the tops of sheltered summit gullies and scarp slopes with a North to Easterly aspect. Bonding of these fresh accumulations will be moderate to poor in the localised areas where they form on top of older snow-ice. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Mainly in highest North and East facing corries. ICING: Freezing level 900 metres on Saturday. COMMENT: Becoming dry on Saturday and much less windy than of late. SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS FRI 13/1/06 Heavy rain has significantly increased the thaw rate with a rapid reduction in the snow cover occurring. The remaining patchy snow is wet but stable on all aspects. The deepest deposits are to be found in sheltered locations on N through E to SE aspects above 1000 metres. The avalanche hazard is Low (Category 1). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SAT 14/1/06 As the freezing level lowers to 1000 metres the rain will gradually turn to snow above 600 metres. There will be a light general cover of new snow with moderately bonded layers being found where depth is achieved over re-frozen old snow on steeper slopes. This situation will mainly occur on N through E to SE aspects above 1000 metres. The avalanche hazard will be Moderate (Category 2). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Mostly in the River Dee with very patchy wet snow above 1000 metres. ICING: Little remains. COMMENT: Freezing level lowering to 900 metres on Saturday. CREAG MEAGAIDH AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS FRI 13/1/06 Mild, wet conditions have depleted the snowpack back to isolated snow patches above 900 metres. Larger patches are present above 900 metres on steep North through to South-East facing gully tops and corrie rims. Thaw conditions with rain have moistened the upper layers of the snow but overall stability is reasonable. The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SAT 14/1/06 Light to moderate Westerly winds with some snow are forecast for Friday night but this will die out to give a dry, bright and cool day. The surface layers of most pre-existing old snow patches will re-freeze and become hard or crusty in the cooler temperatures. Some new, soft, moderately-bonded windslab will form on very sheltered North to East aspects above 900 metres. The avalanche hazard will be Moderate (Category 2). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Poor. Much depletion. Snowpack limited to patches above 800m. Back to square one. ICING: It has been thawing and very wet for the past 48 hrs. Freezing at 1000m overnight and 900m on Saturday. COMMENT: Very soggy everywhere on Saturday. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------