NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS THU 4/1/01 A fine day with some overnight snow above 800 metres, West to South West winds and notable avalanche debris on a NE facing slope at 950 metres in Coire an Lochain. Another avalanche in the same area was observed at mid-day. The snowpack stability is generally fair but locally there are areas of very poor stability due to the buried surface hoar which has an increasing load particularly on West, North and East aspects above 850 metres. The avalanche hazard is High (Category 4). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK FRI 5/1/01 A dry day for Friday with still some snow transport on winds from the SE and SW. The slab will continue to build in lee locations, mainly on NE aspects above 850 metres. In places this slab will be over 2 metres thick and sitting on the surface hoar formed on 22 December. Avalanches are likely, although the distribution of the slab is becoming more isolated. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: A little more snow above 800 metres but not enough for the ski touring gear yet. ICING: Plateau icing is complete between boulder fields. COMMENT: That buried surface hoar is going to be around for a while yet. LOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS THU 4/1/01 Accumulations of soft windslab are present in sheltered locations. Greatest deposits are on corrie headwalls, scarp slopes and the tops of gullies with a North West through to East aspect above 900 metres. Where this fresh snow overlies older frozen snow it is weakly bonded. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK FRI 5/1/01 A thaw freeze cycle overnight and during Friday should see stability increase at lower levels. Above 900 metres accumulations of windslab will be present on North West through to East aspects, notably corrie headwalls, scarp slopes and the tops of gullies. Where this fresh snow overlies older frozen snow it will be weakly bonded. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Best cover above 600 metres in North and North East facing corries. ICING: Freezing level back to 500m tomorrow. COMMENT: Conditions should start to improve in thaw freeze cycle. GLENCOE AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS THU 4/1/01 Sleet and wet snow above 900m are maintaining the snowpack in a very soft and moist condition. There are deep accumulations of soft wet slab in sheltered gullies and hollows mainly with a North to Easterly aspect. These accumulations are weakly bonded where they exist on steeper slopes and old snow ice underlies. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK FRI 5/1/01 Colder conditions overnight and during course of Friday will start to consolidate much of the existing wet snowpack. Deep accumulations of of moderately bonded snow will remain in summit gullies mainly above 900m. Light snow showers and fresh Southerly winds will form pockets of shallow windslab mainly at the tops of gullies and scarp slopes with a Northwest to Northeast aspect.These accumulations are not expected to be extensive or deep. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Snow above 300m. ICING: Ice on rocks above 850m. COMMENT: Ridges and buttresses have a cover of wet snow and may give some good climbing as it gets colder. SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS THU 4/1/01 Snow showers and drifting have deposited fresh windslab on NW to NE aspects. Stability is poor where these deposits are at their greatest especially around corrie rims and gully exits. In Lochnagar large spindrift avalanches were observed on Parallel Buttress and debris noted under the cliffs from numerous single point releases. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). Fresh cornices continue to build. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK FRI 5/1/01 The current situation will remain relatively unchanged with weakly bonded windslab existing in sheltered locations on NW to NE aspects. Greatest hazard will be found in deeper deposits on steep ground. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). Cornices should be avoided. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Crusty patchy snow from 700 metres with new snow above 850 metres. ICING: Mostly buried under powder at present. COMMENT: Careful route selection required. CREAG MEAGAIDH AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS THU 4/1/01 Overnight snow on a strong South Westerly wind has caused deep accumulations of weakly bonded windslab to form at the tops of sheltered gullies and slopes of a North West through North East to East aspect above 850 metres. Relatively mild temperatures have caused some settling but in the deeper deposits the avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK FRI 5/1/01 With only light to moderate winds and a drop in temperature there will be little change to the current snow conditions. Deep deposits of weakly bonded windslab will remain at the tops of sheltered slopes and gullies of a North West through North East to East aspect above 850 metres. Shallower deposits will benefit from the colder conditions and show some consolidation. The avalanche hazard will remain Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Fresh soft snow down to the road at the west side of the range. Less in the East. No base for skiing. ICING: Thaw freeze cycle continues. So it must be getting better. COMMENT: Fresh cornices have begun to form above Northerly aspects. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------