NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SAT 3/2/01 The first of the new snow in the past 24 hours came on light winds from the SE to S. Since midday the wind strength has increased and snow has become heavier. This has created a more dense surface slab on top of a soft, less wind effected layer. The slab shears easily in all field tests. Slab avalanche activity due to cornice release was observed at 1100m on a NW aspect. The avalanche hazard is High (Category 4). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SUN 4/2/01 Heavy snow and increased winds from the SE are forecast. There will be continued deterioration of snowpack stability. Avalanches will occur on all aspects from W to E, particularly NW to NE above 700 metres. Some large feature SE aspects will be scoured but transition terrain zones will need careful evaluation. Fast moving powder avalanches will extend into elevations below 700 metres. The avalanche hazard will be High (Category 4). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Plateau cover is good. ICING: Getting plastered with snow right now. COMMENT: Very conservative avalanche route finding decisions are indicated. LOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SAT 3/2/01 Light and variable winds with snow overnight have formed fresh areas of soft windslab. Greatest accumulations are on scarp slopes, gullies and corrie headwalls with a N through to SE aspect. Below 1000 metres large areas of wet snow remain on many aspects and show poor stability on steep inclinations. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SUN 4/2/01 Fresh snow and strong SE winds are expected over the next 24 hours. The existing wet snowpack will become generally stable, however fresh windslab development will continue. Greatest accumulations will be on W, NW and N facing slopes and gullies, where avalanches are likely. Sheltered locations on other aspects will also be affected. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). Fresh unstable cornices will also form above these aspects. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Fresh snow expected at all levels . ICING: Becoming colder, freezing at all levels by Sunday. COMMENT: Unstable snow forming through out the next 24 hrs. Careful route choice essential. GLENCOE AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SAT 3/2/01 Wet snow falling above 650 metres and freezing level around the summits have created a soft moist snowpack. Wet slab lying on steep N to E facing corrie headwalls and in summit gullies is potentially unstable. This wet slab conceals deep layered dry slab which is only moderately bonded to the underlying wet snow. Cornice debris was noted in Forked Gully. Avalanche hazard Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SUN 4/2/01 Showers at all levels overnight will turn to heavy snow on a SE gale during Sunday (blizzard conditions). Windslab will accumulate on W through to NE corrie headwalls and in sheltered gullies. Deep layered windslab on steep ground will be weakly bonded to the underlying snowpack. Avalanches will occur and increasingly large cornices will be unstable. The avalanche hazard will be High (Category 4). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: New above 650m. ICING: Thawing ice above 800m will reform on Sunday. COMMENT: Snow at all levels during Sunday with SE gales- Blizzard conditions will prevail on the hill. SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SAT 3/2/01 Increasingly heavy snowfall and strengthening winds are now rapidly building fresh windslab on SW through to N aspects. Above 900 metres on W through to E aspects buried surface hoar exists as a weak layer within the pack. As deposits built during the day snowpack stability has deteriorated. The avalanche hazard is High (Category 4). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SUN 4/2/01 Heavy snowfall on storm force winds will continue to load windslab in to sheltered locations and on to SW through to NE aspects. The snowpack will be weakly bonded with the avalanche hazard High (Category 4). Avalanches will occur and cornices will be highly unstable. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Good above 700 metres. Snowing down to valley level at present (03/02/01). ICING:Refrozen but buried on above mentioned aspects. COMMENT: Expect blizzard conditions on Sunday. CREAG MEAGAIDH AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SAT 3/2/01 Continuous snowfall on relatively light South-East winds has covered all aspects with a layer of powder snow. Although drifting is occurring, there has been little build up of fresh windslab. Therefore, shallow accumulations of fresh windslab exist in the most sheltered gullies and hollows of a North-West through North-East to East aspect above 800 metres. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SUN 4/2/01 Moderate snowfall on a storm force South-East wind will cause windslab to build on lee slopes of a North-West through North- East to East aspect above 800 metres. Temperatures will be very cold, so little consolidation of Saturday's snowfall will occur and fresh windslab will have a very efficient sliding surface to build on. Cornices will continue to grow in the very strong winds. The avalanche hazard will be High (Category 4). Avalanches will occur. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Main cover above 750 metres. Fresh snow falling at all levels. ICING: Good on the Post Face and in The Inner Coire although much is buried in soft snow. COMMENT: Some hardy souls were climbing today (3.2.01). Prospects less favourable for Sunday. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------