NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS WED 18/1/06 Westerly winds and rising temperatures have affected the area. The snowpack has become more moist throughout the day. The weak windslab that is present above 1000 metres in localised accumulations on Northerly to North-Easterly aspects in lee areas such as gully exits, corrie rims and buttress aprons are becoming more unstable as will any cornices that have developed. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK THU 19/1/06 Strong South-Westerly winds with rain on the summits will continue throughout the day. The snowpack that remains on Northerly to Easterly aspects above 1000 metres will become more saturated. Here the snowpack will become more unstable, especially cornices and where the snowpack accummulations lie on steep ground in gullies and corrie rims. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Going Going ! ICING: Some ice patches and areas hanging in there. COMMENT: Colder temperatures for Friday LOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS WED 18/1/06 Warmer temperatures during today have produced a moist snowpack at all levels. Unstable accumulations are present on steep slopes and gullies above 1000m. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK THU 19/1/06 Heavy rain at all levels is expected overnight and during Thursday. The snowpack will gradually stabilise and reduce at all levels. Localised wet snow instabilities will be present on steep slopes above 1100 metres. The avalanche hazard will be Moderate (Category 2). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Wet snow at all levels. ICING: Freezing level above the summits for the next 24 hrs. COMMENT: The current snow cover will be drastically reduced over the next 224 hrs. GLENCOE AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS WED 18/1/06 Mild and wet conditions today have reduced the snow cover. Greatest accumulations of snow now remain in the highest North and East facing corries. Wet snow instabilities exist on the steepest of these slopes mainly around corrie rims and summit gully exits. In most other areas the snowpack is soft and wet but is stable. Avalanche hazard Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK THU 19/1/06 Very mild and wet conditions will continue overnight and through much of Thursday. The remaining snowpack will be soft and moist and will be stable on all but the steepest gully exits and North and East facing scarp slopes where wet snow instabilities will remain. The avalanche hazard will be Moderate (Category 2). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Mainly in high North and East facing corries but disappearing fast with current thaw. ICING: Freezing level 2500 metres for period. COMMENT: Becoming colder Thursday night as a cold front moves into the West. Very windy on Thursday. SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS WED 18/1/06 Shallow areas of windslab are consolidating in the milder temperatures but in the deeper accumulations that exist in sheltered locations on N to E aspects above 1000 metres drier moderately to weakly bonded layers are still present. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). Cornices are suspect. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK THU 19/1/06 Thaw conditions will continue at all levels. Deeper accumulations which will be found in gullies and on scarp slopes on N to E aspects above 950 metres will be wet but stable. The avalanche hazard will be Low (Category 1). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Likely to be severe loss of cover. ICING: Subject to thaw conditions. COMMENT: Another wet and windy day forecast. CREAG MEAGAIDH AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS WED 18/1/06 The most recent windslab that lies on steep North to East aspects has been moistened by light rainfall. The onset of heavy rain late in the day was an additional de-stabilising influence and initiated a period of very poor stability. Elsewhere the wet and mild conditions have further depleted the snow cover. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK THU 19/1/06 The weather will remain wet and mild overnight and during Thursday. The near-surface layers of the snowpack will be maintained in a wet and poorly stabilised state for a time. Steep North to East aspects above 930 metres that hold the newest windslab will remain areas of particular concern, although some marginal consolidation is expected later. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: New snow now wet down to 800m and stripped bare below this altitude. ICING: Full-on thaw in progress. COMMENT: Freezing at 2500m overnight and on Thurs. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------