NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SAT 14/1/06 Overnight heavy rain with a dusting of light snow above 1100 metres cleared to leave a dry day with light Southerly winds. The remaining snowpack is generally well bonded and lies above 1000 metres on all aspects. On a North aspect at 1100 metres, slush layers were noted beneath the newly frozen crust. The avalanche hazard is Low (Category 1). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SUN 15/1/06 Strong winds from the South will carry light snow showers during the afternoon. New accumulations of windslab will be small and form in sheltered locations such as corrie rims and gully heads mainly on Northerly aspects. Elsewhere the snowpack will be well bonded and stable. The avalanche hazard will be Moderate (Category 2). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Large patches of hard snow remain on the plateau. ICING: Although thin, good snow-ice and ice in the lower grade gullies, turf well frozen, nothing left on buttresses. COMMENT: Wall to wall sunshine and no wind in the hills today, bliss. LOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SAT 14/1/06 Today was dry with light Southerly winds and no new snow was deposited overnight. The remaining snow found mostly on corrie rims and in gullies with North to East aspects above 1000m, is stable and well-bonded. The avalanche hazard is Low (Category 1). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SUN 15/1/06 Snow is expected late in the night, which will then turn to sleet or rain as Sunday progresses. A strong Southerly wind will cause any snow that does fall, to form windslab on North aspects and in sheltered areas. Some instabilities will be present where the slab lies on the old snowpack mainly in gully exits, steep slopes and corrie rims above 1000m. The avalanche hazard will be Moderate (Category 2). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Corrie rims and in gullies with North to East aspects above 1000m. ICING: Thawing COMMENT: Freezing level above the summits. GLENCOE AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SAT 14/1/06 Recent thaw conditions have reduced the general snow cover. Remaining snow is now mainly to be found in the highest North and Easterly facing corries. A light dusting of fresh snow fell overnight and is lying above 900 metres. The avalanche hazard is Low (Category 1). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SUN 15/1/06 Light snow overnight and very strong Southerly winds will initially form pockets of shallow windslab mainly around the tops of summit gullies and corrie rims. Rain or sleet at all levels will affect the area during the morning as the freezing level rises above the summits. Wet snow instabilities will exist on the steepest North to East slopes and in summit gullies mainly above 1000 metres. The avalanche hazard will be Moderate (Category 2). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Mainly in highest North and East facing corries. ICING: Freezing level 1200 metres on Sunday. COMMENT: Return to windy conditions overnight and on Sunday. SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SAT 14/1/06 Snow cover has been reduced after the recent thaw. Old snow is refrozen and mostly limited to N to E corries with largest areas on Beinn a' Bhuird and the Cairngorm Plateau. The avalanche hazard is Low (Category 1). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SUN 15/1/06 The freezing level will be around 1200 metres but there will be some snow showers later in the day on strong S winds. Stability will be moderate where new accumulations achieve reasonable depth over older snow-ice. This will be in gullies on N to E aspects over 950 metres. The avalanche hazard will be Moderate (Category 2). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Greatest accumulatios are on Beinn a' Bhuird and the Cairngorm Plateau. ICING: Surprisingly Lochnagar gullies have held on to snow and some ice. Turf is mostly refrozen. Buttresses are black. COMMENT: Freezing level will be around 1200 metres. CREAG MEAGAIDH AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SAT 14/1/06 Heavy overnight rain at all levels cleared in the early hours and left a ground frost that persisted all day in shaded areas. What remains of the snow cover is now significantly depleted and confined to isolated patches above 900 metres. The snowpack has a crust that varies in thickness with altitude and beneath it the snow is moist and slowly thawing. Stability is good in all locations. The avalanche hazard is Low (Category 1). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SUN 15/1/06 A westward moving trough of low pressure will bring strong Southerly winds and some intermittent snow showers to the area. Snow stability will remain good in all locations until the onset of snow showers. Some new windslab development is expected on sheltered North to East aspects above 950 metres. The avalanche hazard will rise to Moderate (Category 2). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Very poor. Some limited improvement expected during Sunday. ICING: Post Face and Inner Coire frosted up all day on Saturday after 56hrs of rainfall and thaw. Freezing at 1100m overnight and 1200m on Sunday. COMMENT: Picture postcard day on Saturday. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------