GLENCOE AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS TUE 1/1/02 Rain last night has reduced the snow cover at lower levels New snow above 800m with a strong Westerly wind has formed areas of unstable windslab in sheltered locations mainly around the tops of gullies and on steep North to East facing slopes above 900m. Where deep formations of windslab exist the avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). Fresh debris noted below gullies today AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK WED 2/1/02 Dry conditions with strong Southerly winds will affect the area. Fresh areas of unstable windslab will form as redistribution of the existing snowpack continues. Greatest accumulations are expected to form on Northwest to East facing slopes and in sheltered gullies mainly above 900m. Avalanches are likely where deep windslab forms on steep slopes The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Snow above 500m. Deep soft snow in some higher gullies General cover remains thin. ICING: Ice on rocks and paths above 500m. COMMENT: Light cover of snow on ridges and buttresses. Getting milder during Wednesday. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- LOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS TUE 1/1/02 Strong Westerly winds overnight and during Tuesday have continued to form areas of soft windslab in sheltered locations. Greatest accumulations are on scarp slopes and gully tops with a NE, E and SE aspect above 1000m. Some localised areas of slab are also present on crag aprons with the same aspect. The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK WED 2/1/02 A strengthening Southerly airflow and slightly warmer temperatures are expected during Wednesday. Areas of weakly bonded surface slab will be present, main accumulations being on scarp slopes and gully tops with an NE and E aspect above 1000m. This surface slab will also be present on crag aprons in NE and E facing corries. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Snow still lying at all levels. ICING: Freezing level rising to around 900m on Wednesday. COMMENT: Deep snow in the higher corries making walking challenging in places. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- CREAG MEAGAIDH AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS TUE 1/1/02 Clear mountain conditions combined with a Strong North-West wind has distributed weakly bonded windslab on North-East through East to South-West aspects above 850 metres. Lee slopes below cornices, sheltered gullies and hollows of the above mentioned aspects are particularly affected with deepest deposits but can generally be avoided. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3) and fresh avalanche debris was noted on several Easterly aspects. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK WED 2/1/02 Generally milder conditions with the freezing level at the summits and a Gale force Southerly airflow will have a slow stabilising affect on present snowpack conditions. Deepest fresh windslab deposits will be found on NorthEast through East to South aspects above 850 metres then later as drifting occurs more Northerly aspects will be affected. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Snow cover at all levels. ICING: Improving in exposed areas, still a lot of unconsolidated snow in between. COMMENT: Cracking day to start the year off!! ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS TUE 1/1/02 Layered windslab exists in sheltered locations on E to S aspects. These deposits are moderately bonded where deeper accumulations exist on steeper slopes. Moderate hand shears were achieved where soft slab lay on firmer slab. Cross loading has occurred into multi-aspected features such as gully exits. The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK WED 2/1/02 The freezing level will rise during the forecast period from sea level to around 900 metres by early afternoon. Stability of surface slab will be poor in steeper sheltered locations on E to S aspects where deeper accumulations exist. Careful route choice will avoid these locations and cornice build up during thaw conditions. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Deepest cover on S and E aspects. Exposed areas have generally thin cover. ICING: Watercourses and turf well frozen on 1/1/02. COMMENT: Cornice collapse hazard on 2/1/02. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS TUE 1/1/02 Spectacular day in the sun with South and East aspects holding some significant deposits of slab. Strong Westerly winds and temperatures down to -5 degrees at 1200 metres. Avalanche debris triggered by cornice break was noted in Hell's Lum Crag. In that area there were also near continuous spindrift sluffs during the period of observation. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK WED 2/1/02 The freezing level will rise to 900 metres and winds change to Southerly. This will contribute to snow transport into North aspect terrain. Above 900 metres on East, South and North aspect the snow stability will only be fair. Slab on large well covered open slopes and cornices will remain suspect. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: It's possible to pick a line on the plateau on East and South aspect; North aspect pretty lean. ICING: Little change and conditions are receiving mixed reviews depending on your style of climbing. COMMENT: Given the forecast visibility it should be fairly easy to avoid zones of instability. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------