NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SUN 22/1/06 It has been a dry day with mild Southerly winds. The isolated windslab which lies on North-East to South-Easterly aspects above 900 metres is slowly consolidating. Elsewhere the snowpack is well bonded and stable. The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK MON 23/1/06 The South-Westerly airflow will continue with light rain overnight clearing to leave a dry day. The remaining isolated windslab which lies on North-East to South-Easterly aspects above 900 metres will slowly consolidate in the mild temperatures. Any existing cornices will be prone to collapse. The avalanche hazard will be Moderate (Category 2). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Enough snow on plateau for the odd ski tourer. ICING: Plenty of winter sport in Northern Corries. COMMENT: Mild again tomorrow. LOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SUN 22/1/06 There was a moderate South Westerly wind with no new snow deposits in the area today. The general snow cover above 800m is thin and stable with occasional larger drifts found in sheltered areas. Where windslab is present, instabilities remain and the bond was found to be weak. These areas tend to be on scarp slopes and in sheltered gullies above 1000m with a North to East aspect. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK MON 23/1/06 A South-Westerly wind with light snow showers above 900m is forecast overnight and on Monday. The current instabilities found within the windslab on North to East aspects above 1000m will remain. New snow deposits are not expected to be substantial. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Mainly above 900m on corrie rims, crag aprons and in sheltered gullies. ICING: Thawing today. COMMENT: Plenty of people out on the hill over the weekend. GLENCOE AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SUN 22/1/06 In general the snow cover is thin and 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 Low (Category 1). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK MON 23/1/06 Light rain overnight will give way to light snow showers above 1000m during Monday with strong SW winds. New accumulations of snow will be light and moist. Wet snow instabilities will form on steep slopes and where windslab accumulations exist. These areas will be around the tops of summit gullies, scarp slopes with a North to Easterly aspect or any sheltered area where cornices exist mainly above 950 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 1200 metres. COMMENT: Very windy with light snow showers on the summits. SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SUN 22/1/06 The freezing level remained just over the summits. Some consolidation has taken place of recent deposits on E to S aspects above 900 metres but where wet snow overlies older hard snow-ice it is still moderately bonded. Stability remains good elsewhere. The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK MON 23/1/06 The freezing levels are expected to remain over the summits. All snow will continue to thaw slowly with stability of softer wet snow on E to S aspects above 900 metres improving. Older snow-ice will remain well bonded. The avalanche hazard will be Low (Category 1). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Generally poor with sheltered locations holding snow on N to S aspects above 900 mts. ICING: Lean with variable quality. COMMENT: Another warm and windy day expected. CREAG MEAGAIDH AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SUN 22/1/06 It has remained mild and mostly dry both overnight and during Sunday. In these steady thaw conditions the snowpack has become much depleted at all levels and with no additional precipitation has remained generally stable. The avalanche hazard is Low (Category 1). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK MON 23/1/06 It will remain mild with light rain overnight before another mild and dry day on Monday. In the continuing thaw conditions the snowpack will further deplete and remain generally stable. An additional hazard will exist with any overnight moistening of cornices that overhang North-East to South-East aspects. The avalanche hazard will remain Low (Category 1). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Much depleted below 900 metres. ICING: Freezing levels staying above summits. COMMENT: Jury is still out on winter! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------