NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS WED 3/1/01 The mid-day temperature on Cairn Gorm summit was -5 degrees with strong South-West winds and snow showers. This has produced another dry slab on crust from the previous warm cycle. This slab is distributed from 800 metres up on mainly North aspects but also on East and West aspect exits from the corries. The snowpack stability is fair with shears of the new slab and the previously identified crust/surface hoar interface remaining weak. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK THU 4/1/01 New snow is forecast on South and South-West winds with summit temperatures in the -2 degree range. Small terrain features with less than 1 metre of snow appear to be reasonably bridged and strong. But any larger slope above 800 metres on West, North and East aspects is very suspect. Avalanches will occur on the identified terrain, especially where it has a convex nature. The avalanche hazard will be High (Category 4). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Still lean but good travel. ICING: Still lean and hard on the pick tips. COMMENT: There have been a number of `closely' observed avalanches in the past few days and the cycle continues. LOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS WED 3/1/01 SW winds with snow overnight and during Wednesday have started to form fresh deposits of unstable snow on NW through to E aspects above 600m. Greatest accumulations are on sheltered slopes, tops of gullies and crag aprons. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). Wind blown slopes are generally frozen and stable. Cornices starting to form. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK THU 4/1/01 S/SW winds with snow will continue to form fresh areas of weakly bonded windslab during the forecast period. Greatest accumulations will be on sheltered slopes and gullies with NW through to E aspects where avalanches are likely. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). Cornices will continue to form. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Fresh cover returning above 500m ICING: Remaining limited. COMMENT: Significant amounts of snow being moved on the hill during Wednesday. GLENCOE AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS WED 3/1/01 Overnight and throughout today new snow has fallen above 300m. Drifting has occurred on North to East facing slopes. Soft slab exists in sheltered summit gullies and as the day progresses deeper accumulations are forming. Cornices are forming above corrie headwalls. Where soft slab overlies old snow it is weakly bonded. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK THU 4/1/01 Unsettled conditions will persist with heavy sleet or snow showers above 900m. Windslab will continue to accumulate on North to East facing corrie headwalls and in sheltered summit gullies. Deep windslab overlying old snow on steep slopes will be very weakly bonded. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). Avalanches are likely and cornices will be unstable. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: New snow above 300m. ICING: Ice forming on rocks above 450m. COMMENT: Turf still quite firm, snow falling on wet rock becoming icy. SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS WED 3/1/01 A melt freeze cycle has left most of the snow crusty but moderately bonded at all levels. Snowfall and subsequent drifting has left areas of weakly bonded soft slab on N aspects above 950 metres. Depth of these areas is reasonable on some scarp slopes where the avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK THU 4/1/01 Soft slab will continue to develop on NW to NE aspects above 900 metres. Where new deposits overlie harder snow ice they will be poorly bonded. A rise in the freezing level to around summit level will eventually help consolidation but not before a period of instability. Avalanches are likely on scarp and other steeper slopes. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Crusty patchy snow on most aspects from 700m. ICING: Plenty of ice around but not always in the right places. COMMENT: Freezing level due to be around summit level. CREAG MEAGAIDH AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS WED 3/1/01 Snow on a Strong South West wind combined with drifting has accumulated fresh windslab on a North West to North East aspect above 850 Metres. At first sheltered gullies and hollows of the above mentioned aspect will be affected, especially where windslab builds on old snow deposits. Weakly bonded subsurface layers exist within the snowpack and as snowfall continues steeper sheltered slopes will also be affected. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK THU 4/1/01 Snow tonight and tomorrow on a strong South West wind will build further accumulations of weakly bonded fresh windslab on North West to North East aspects above 850 metres. Both steep sheltered slopes, gullies and hollows of the above mentioned aspect will be affected. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3) with avalanches likely. Fresh unstable cornices will continue to build throughout the forecast period. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Snowfall at all levels, improving general cover. ICING:Freezing level at around 800 metres, thaw-freeze process should improve conditions. COMMENT: At last some real winter conditions! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------