NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS TUE 31/1/06 Today has been another sunny clear day on the tops with warm temperatures and a cooling Easterly breeze. The snowpack continues to stabilise through the process of refreezing as a consequence of the warm day time temperatures and the subzero night time temperatures. The snowpack above 900 metres is well bonded and stable. The avalanche hazard is Low (Category 1). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK WED 1/2/06 Dry and light South-Westerly winds are expected. In the early hours of the morning the freezing level will be at sea level rising to above the summits during the day. The snowpack that exists largely above 900m will remain stable and well bonded. The avalanche hazard will be Low (Category 1). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Thin light snow cover above 600m with areas of iron hard snow above 900m and on S-SW aspects. ICING: water ice developing in many areas. COMMENT: Great for walking on the tops, views unmissable ! LOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS TUE 31/1/06 Cold and dry conditions are continuing to affect the area. The snowpack remains stable and well bonded. The avalanche hazard is Low (Category 1). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK WED 1/2/06 The cold and dry conditions will continue overnight and during Wednesday. Little change is expected to the existing snowpack. Stability will remain good. The avalanche hazard will be Low (Category 1). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Main accumulations are on corrie rims, crag aprons and in gullies with a North and East aspect above 1000m. ICING: Snow and turf should remain frozen despite higher summit temperatures. COMMENT: Frozen water courses affecting some footpaths. GLENCOE AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS TUE 31/1/06 Settled weather over the last few days has consolidated the snowpack giving generally good stability on all slopes. The greatest accumulations of snow are in and around the tops of sheltered gullies and on slopes with a North to Easterly aspect above 950m. The avalanche hazard is Low (Category 1). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK WED 1/2/06 The settled and dry conditions will continue with light winds mainly from the South-West. Mild temperatures will soften the snowpack in some areas but this should not affect the overall stability of the snowpack, which will remain good on most slopes. The avalanche hazard will be Low (Category 1). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Most of the snow lies in the highest North and East facing corries and gullies. ICING: Thin ice and rime on upper rocks. Thin ice forming in watercourses. COMMENT: Settled and dry conditions will continue. Hazard of falling rocks exists with the outlook for very mild daytime summit temperatures on Wednesday. SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS TUE 31/1/06 It was another calm and clear day with temperatures remaining very low in the valleys and warmer on the summits. Little has changed in the snowpack and it is stable at all levels. The avalanche hazard is Low (Category 1). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK WED 1/2/06 The weather will continue to be settled with light winds. The snow will soften but it will remain well bonded at all levels. The avalanche hazard will be Low (Category 1). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Greatest snow amounts are around corrie rims above 950 metres. Garbh Corrie at Braeriach is still holding cover. ICING: Ice is forming in watercourses particularly at lower altitudes. COMMENT: Buttresses remain black, easier gully lines are holding snow. CREAG MEAGAIDH AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS TUE 31/1/06 It has been cold overnight in the valley and warm again in summit areas today. The snowpack, which is limited to above 900 metres, has softened in surface layers but has remained well bonded and stable. The avalanche hazard is Low (Category 1). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK WED 1/2/06 It will continue settled and dry with ligth South Westerly winds, this persisting area of high pressure will maintain the current snowpack conditions. Surface layers of refrozen snow on steep North East to South East gullies and around coire rims will soften during the day but the snowpack is expected to remain stable. The avalanche hazard will be Low (Category 1). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Isolated patches only below 900 metres, more widespread in summit areas. ICING: Lean, ice only at higest elevations, all graded routes mostly broken although some very limited easier lines still complete to coire rim from lower down. COMMENT: Area of high pressure giving great conditions for winter walking on the tops ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS WED 1/2/06 It has been a clear sunny and warm day on the tops with a light Westerly breeze. The snowpack above 900 metres is generally well bonded and stable. The avalanche hazard is Low (Category 1). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK THU 2/2/06 Light South-Westerly winds are expected with no precipitation. The snowpack that remains above 900 metres will continue to bond and stabilise. A loose surface layer of snow lies on all aspects above 600 metres.The avalanche hazard will be Low (Category 1). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Extensive areas of firm n‚v‚ remain on S to E aspects above 1000m with a thin loose layer on all aspects above 600m. ICING: Hard snow in grade 1 gullies and some ice. COMMENT: A glorious day on the tops. Get your boots on and go to the mountains, unmissable views. LOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS WED 1/2/06 Cold and dry conditions are continuing to affect the area with a temperature inversion above 800m. The snowpack remains stable and well bonded. The avalanche hazard is Low (Category 1). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK THU 2/2/06 The cold and dry conditions will continue at lower altitudes with warmer summit temperatures during Thursday. Little change is expected to the existing snowpack. Stability will remain good. The avalanche hazard will be Low (Category 1). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Main accumulations are on corrie rims, crag aprons and in gullies with a North and East aspect above 1000m. ICING: Snow and turf should remain frozen despite higher summit temperatures. COMMENT: Frozen water courses affecting many footpaths. GLENCOE AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS WED 1/2/06 Settled weather over the last few days has consolidated the snowpack giving generally good stability on all slopes. The greatest accumulations of snow are in and around the tops of sheltered gullies and on slopes with a North to Easterly aspect above 950 metres. The avalanche hazard is Low (Category 1). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK THU 2/2/06 The settled and dry conditions will continue with fresh Southerly winds. Mild temperatures will soften the snowpack in some areas but this should not affect the overall stability of the snowpack, which will remain good on most slopes. The avalanche hazard will be Low (Category 1). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Most of the snow lies in the highest North and East facing corries and gullies. ICING: Thin ice on upper rocks and in watercourses. COMMENT: Settled and dry conditions will continue but becoming generally milder. Possibility of falling rocks. SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS WED 1/2/06 Weather conditions again stayed settled with temperatures remaining low in the valleys and slightly higher on the summits. The snowpack remains stable at all levels. The avalanche hazard is Low (Category 1). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK THU 2/2/06 The settled period will continue with light winds and sunshine. Snow conditions will change very little. Areas exposed to the sun will soften but all areas will continue to be well bonded at all levels. The avalanche hazard will be Low (Category 1). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Greatest snow accumulations are around corrie rims above 950 metres. Thin cover elsewhere. ICING: Ice is forming in watercourses but very little has formed at Stag's Rocks or the Dubh Loch. COMMENT: Buttresses remain black, easier gully lines are holding snow. CREAG MEAGAIDH AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS WED 1/2/06 A temperature inversion persisted overnight and during Wednesday giving mild summit temperatures and frost below 500 metres. The snowpack is limited to patches on North-East to South-East facing corrie rims, gully tops and plateau areas above 900 metres. There is a moist, stable surface layer that lies over tightly bonded snow-ice. The avalanche hazard is Low (Category 1). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK THU 2/2/06 It will remain dry with light South-West winds. A temperature inversion is expected again which will maintain warmer daytime temperatures near summits. The snowpack will refreeze overnight but surface layers are expected to moisten as temperatures rise during Thursday. Snow stability will remain good. The avalanche hazard will be Low (Category 1). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Poor. Patches above 900m. ICING: Crags looking black. One or two gully lines just about complete. COMMENT: Last significant snowfall was on 21st January. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------