NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SAT 21/1/06 Dry moderate Northerly winds with the freezing level at summit levels have continued for most of the day. Soft windslab accumulations remain in isolated lee areas on North-East to South-Easterly aspects above 900 metres. Elsewhere the snowpack is moderately well bonded and stable. The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SUN 22/1/06 South-Westerly winds will bring snow initially which will turn to rain for the rest of the day. The freezing level will be above the summits. Generally the snowpack will continue to stabilise. However some weaknesses will remain in the slab accumulations on North-East to South-Easterly aspects above 900 metres. The avalanche hazard will be Moderate (Category 2). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Thin snow cover down to 700m. Good walking on the plateau. ICING: Excellent snow conditions in N. Corries, frosted cliffs. COMMENT: The hills look wintry! LOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SAT 21/1/06 A strong Westerly wind overnight has caused large drifts to form above 1000m and further windslab accumulations on scarp slopes and in gully exits. Today Westerly winds eased by the afternoon to leave a calm, dry day with no new snow deposits. The windslab found above 1000m on North through East to South East aspects was weakly bonded and unstable. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SUN 22/1/06 A South-Westerly wind and dry conditions overnight will be followed by rain at all levels on Monday morning. Current instabilities will remain within the snowpack and the bond between the layers will be at its weakest as the freezing level rises and the pack becomes saturated. Avalanches are likely on North through East to South East aspects, on scarp slopes and in sheltered gullies above 1000m. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Above 700m on all aspects. Main accumulations above 1000m on North and East aspects. ICING:Rime ice on high crags. COMMENT: Freezing level rising above the tops on Sunday. GLENCOE AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SAT 21/1/06 Some new snow fell overnight followed by slightly milder dry and calm conditions to day. In general much of the snow cover is thin and is stable but localised instabilities exist where deeper windslab has formed on the steepest slopes or where old snow- ice underlies. These areas tend to be around the tops of sheltered gullies and scarp slopes with a North to Easterly aspect above 1000 metres. The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SUN 22/1/06 Dry conditions overnight will give way to moderate rain and rising temperatures during Sunday morning. Wet snow instabilities will form on steep slopes where recent windslab accumulations exist. These localised areas will tend to be around the tops of summit gullies, scarp slopes with a North to Easterly aspect or any sheltered area where cornices exist mainly above 1000 metres. Elsewhere the reducing snow cover will be soft, moist and generally stable. The avalanche hazard will be Moderate (Category 2). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Snow above 850 metres. ICING: Freezing level rising to 1500 metres on Sunday. COMMENT: Rain spreading in during morning. SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SAT 21/1/06 Localised areas of moderately bonded windslab exist in sheltered locations on E to S aspects above 900 metres. The snow cover is mostly thin with deeper old snow being found in sheltered locations on N to E aspects above 1000 metres. The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SUN 22/1/06 The freezing level will rise to 1500 metres with some consolidation of the recent snow taking place. The localised areas of deeper windslab that exist in sheltered locations on E to S aspects above 900 metres will still contain moderately bonded layers. The avalanche hazard will be Moderate (Category 2). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: A light covering with deeper deposits in sheltered locations on N to S aspects. ICING: Lean with variable quality. COMMENT: Plenty of vegetation showing through the snow even at higher elevations. CREAG MEAGAIDH AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SAT 21/1/06 Snow showers died out on Friday night to leave Saturday a cool dry day with light to moderate North-West winds. Up to 50 cms of drifted snow lies in sheltered hollows and accumulation zones high on North-East to South-East aspects above 900 metres. No shears were possible during field tests as rapid consolidation has bonded new snow layers together. Some cornice debris was noted below a very steep Easterly aspect in Coire a'Chriochairein. The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SUN 22/1/06 It will remain dry and relatively mild overnight but rain will set in during Sunday morning that may be heavy at times. The most recent drifted snow will continue to consolidate until the onset of rain. The upper layers of the the snowpack above 900 metres will then become wet and marginally stabilised. All recently formed cornices that overhang North-East to South-East aspects will become unstable and in the event of collapse put a high additional load on the slopes below. The snow that lies below 900 metres will deplete rapidly in the thaw. The avalanche hazard will be Moderate (Category 2). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Good cover on plateau on Sat. ICING: Freezing at 1200m overnight and 1600m on Sun. COMMENT: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------