Avalanche risk will be high in all Scottish mountain areas. Photo: Calum Davidson CC-BY-ND-2.0

A Scottish mountain safety expert has warned walkers and climbers of the risk of avalanches this coming weekend.

All mountain areas will be at high risk of avalanche and all winter mountaineers should choose their routes carefully. Heather Morning, mountain safety adviser for the Mountaineering Council of Scotland issued the advice after consultation with the sportscotland Avalanche Information Service.

The warning follows a week in which two men died and another is seriously ill in hospital following avalanches that caused the climbers to fall a considerable distance.

Ms Morning said: “There will be a high avalanche hazard in all of the mountain areas of Scotland for the start of the weekend, in particular on slopes that are to the lee of the prevailing wind which is forecasted to remain strong north-east to easterly.

“Therefore slopes that face south, south-west, west, north-west and northerly, mainly above 400m will be affected with very unstable windslab.

“Slopes of moderate steepness – more than 15 degrees – are currently unstable. Natural avalanches will occur and attention should be given to avalanche runout zones in corries and glens.”

Ms Morning said the snowfall is due to lessen over the weekend but the snowpack will remain weakly bonded and the hazard may well remain high due to the continuing cold temperatures and strong winds.

She continued: “Good route choice is required when travelling in all mountain and hill terrain, and walkers, skiers and climbers should choose appropriate objectives and carry out good travel practice.”

Weather forecasts and avalanche reports can be accessed via grough’s links tab at the top of this page.