NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS MON 5/2/01 Due to storm conditions, snow and avalanche observations were made in an area outside the well travelled Northern Corries climbing terrain. A snow profile on a West aspect at 840 metres showed easy shears on facets and a buried surface hoar layer. Snowpack stability is poor due to the new slab. Some stabilization may have occurred due to avalanches but new slab is building again quickly. The avalanche hazard is High (Category 4). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK TUE 6/2/01 Little change in the storm conditions will occur in the next 24 hours except for a slight change from East to North East winds which will remain strong. Avalanches will occur due to storm instability with some slopes reloading quickly and reaching avalanche threshold again. Areas with full snow cover above 650 metres on aspects from SW to NW will avalanche. Scarp slopes and approaches to climbs on any aspect will have storm instability due to localised loading. The avalanche hazard will be High (Category 4). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Lots of snow going to cornice development. ICING: Very little hard data available; not much change. COMMENT: In some areas the slab build-up was observed to be quite far downslope. LOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS MON 5/2/01 Significant amounts of snow have been distributed by strong E to SE winds during the forecast period. Areas of weakly bonded dense windslab have formed in many sheltered locations. Sheltered hollows, gullies and headwalls with a W through NW to N aspect are particularly affected. Crossloading has continued to affect sheltered lee slopes of other aspects. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK TUE 6/2/01 Snow with a strong E to NE airflow over the next 24 hrs will see weakly bonded windslab continue to form in sheltered locations. Greatest accumulations will be on sheltered SW through W to NW aspects above 800 metres, where avalanches will occur. Crossloading will continue to affect other sheltered aspects. Where this fresh slab forms on old hard deposits it will be particularly weakly bonded. The avalanche hazard will be High (Category 4). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Best above 600m. ICING: Improving, if not buried in places. COMMENT: Significant amounts of snow moved from summit areas today. Caution advised with regard to route choice. GLENCOE AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS MON 5/2/01 Cold conditions with new snow at all levels and a strong Easterly airlflow have formed drifts on West through to North-East facing slopes and in many sheltered hollows and gullies. Above 500 metres areas of deep unstable windslab exist with greatest accumulations to be found in all sheltered gullies and on steep corrie headwalls of a West through to North aspect. Under field test clean easy shears were obtained at several layers in the snowpack. The avalanche hazard is High (Category 4). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK TUE 6/2/01 Cold conditions with new snow and Easterly gales will continue to form unstable accumulations of windslab in all sheltered gullies and on slopes with a South-West through to North aspect. Fresh windblown deposits around the tops of gullies and sheltered scarp slopes will be particularly affected. Unstable cornices will also form above many of these areas. The avalanche hazard will remain High (Category 4) and avalanches will occur. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: New snow above 200m. ICING: Ice on rocks and paths above 100m. COMMENT: Deep unstable windslab in many gullies SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS MON 5/2/01 Snowfall on strong ENE winds has continued to build deep windslab on SW to NW aspects. Deep unstable deposits exist on NW to NE aspects. Stability is poor down to valley level and cornices are easily triggered. The avalanche hazard is High (Category 4). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK TUE 6/2/01 It will continue wintry with further heavy snowfall on strong winds. Deep accumulations of windslab will be found on any aspect from S through to NE from valley level. The snowpack will be weakly bonded and avalanches will occur. The avalanche hazard will be High (Category 4). Cornices remain unstable. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Falling to valley level, very deep drifts in places. ICING: Buried on above mentioned aspects. COMMENT: Blizzard conditions expected on 06/02/01. CREAG MEAGAIDH AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS MON 5/2/01 Light snowfall combined with drifting on a strong North-East wind has accumulated significant depths of highly unstable windslab on South through West to North aspects above 800 metres. Variable winds in the corries have also affected sheltered gullies of a North-East aspect. Fresh avalanche debris was noted on a South-West aspect. The avalanche hazard is High (Category 4). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK TUE 6/2/01 Heavy snow will fall throughout the day on a severe gale force East becoming North-East wind. This will continue to build deep accumulations of highly unstable windslab on South-West through West to North aspects above 800 metres. Variable winds will continue to affect sheltered gullies of a North-West aspect. The avalanche hazard will remain High (Category 4). Avalanches will occur and large unstable cornices will continue to build on above-mentioned aspects. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Main cover above 700 metres. ICING: Good ice remaining on Inner Coire and Post Face routes, about to be buried! COMMENT: Looks like a nasty day tomorrow! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------