As pre-Christmas storms sweep across Scotland this year the work of rescue services on land and at sea are vital. Also an important factor on the hills and mountains of Scotland is the prediction of the conditions leading to avalanches. The Scottish Avalanche Information Service (SAIS) provides vital information every winter, giving reports on avalanche, snow, and mountain conditions for Lochaber, Glen Coe, Northern Cairngorms, Southern Cairngorms, Torridon and Creag Meagaidh.