NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SUN 15/1/06 Light snow on strong South-Easterly winds has left a dusting above 750 metres. Isolated accumulations of windslab have formed on sheltered North-West aspects above 1100 metres. When tested on a North-West aspect at 1110 metres some instability was observed as the new snow sheared easily from the old melt-freeze crust. The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK MON 16/1/06 Snow showers will continue on decreasing Southerly winds. Unstable accumulations of windslab will form in sheltered areas above 1000 metres mainly on North-West to North-East aspects. Especially affected areas will be corrie rims and gully heads. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Patches of old snow exist mainly above 1000 metres. ICING: Rime beginning to form on rocks, top layers of remaining snow-ice well frozen. COMMENT: Conditions cold again tomorrow. LOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SUN 15/1/06 Overnight Southerly winds deposited light, wet snow above 1000m: this soon turned to sleet in the morning. On corrie rims with a North aspect and in sheltered gullies, isolated areas of windslab are present. Elsewhere the snowpack remains stable and well-bonded. The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK MON 16/1/06 Snow showers above 800m are expected overnight, clearing to leave a dry Monday morning with further outbreaks above 500m in the afternoon. Southerly winds overnight veering South Westerly will cause areas of unstable windslab to accumulate on the steepest North to East facing slopes and in sheltered gullies. Instabilities will be present where the slab lies on the old snowpack or on any of the accumulations of windslab formed on Sunday. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Light, wet snow on all aspects above 1000m, main accumulations on upper North to East aspects. ICING: Some ice still present. COMMENT: Wet on the hill today, freezing level dropping to 600m tomorrow. GLENCOE AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SUN 15/1/06 Recent thaw conditions have reduced the general snow cover. Remaining older snow is now mainly to be found in the highest North and Easterly facing corries. Fresh snow overnight and today is lying above 900 metres with Southerly winds forming accumulations of soft slab around the tops of gullies and North and Easterly scarp slopes. The avalanche hazard is Low (Category 1). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK MON 16/1/06 Colder conditions with new snow overnight and strong Southerly winds will form windslab in sheltered locations. Monday will be mainly dry with winds veering South-Westerly giving some re-distribution of existing windslab deposits. Localised instabilities will exist where deeper accumulations of windslab form. These areas will mainly be around the tops of summit gullies and North and East facing corrie rims in particular where older snow-ice underlies. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Mainly in highest North and East facing corries. ICING: Freezing level 650 metres on Monday. COMMENT: Colder and less windy on Monday. SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SUN 15/1/06 There has been very little new snow but it has remained cold. Old snow is frozen 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 MON 16/1/06 New snowfall and strong winds will lead to new accumulations forming in sheltered locations on N to E aspects. Above 900 metres stability will be poor where new accumulations develop over older snow-ice. This will be mainly in gully exits and scarp slopes. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Largest areas are on Beinn a' Bhuird and the Cairngorm Plateau. ICING: Verglas and hoar developing on rocks. Footpaths remain very icy in places. COMMENT: Hopefully there will be an improvement in winter cover. CREAG MEAGAIDH AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SUN 15/1/06 Mostly dry conditions overnight with only light drizzle on Sunday have resulted in a continuing slow thaw of the existing snowpack. The snow cover is limited to isolated patches around coire rims and in high sheltered gully areas above 900m. Stability is good in all locations. The avalanche hazard is Low (Category 1). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK MON 16/1/06 Snow showers overnight with moderate to strong South becoming South-Westerly winds on Monday, will result in fresh deposits of wind blown snow on sheltered North through to East facing slopes and gullies. Due to these accumulations overlying existing deposits around the gully heads and corrie rims above 900 metres the avalanche hazard will rise to Moderate (Category 2). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Isolated patches with a little more widespread cover only in plateau areas. ICING: Cooler conditions forecast with maximum freezing levels 850 metres. COMMENT: Much browness still in sight - more wintry times yet to re-appear. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------