LOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS TUE 6/2/01 Large areas of fresh unstable windslab have formed in areas sheltered from the prevailing SE wind. Greatest accumulations are on steep SW, W, NW and N aspects above 900m. The avalanche hazard is High (Category 4). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK WED 7/2/01 A warm spell is expected overnight with the freezing level rising to 1000m. This will lead to a period of high instability overnight with avalanches occurring on steep SW, W, NW and N aspects. During Wednesday, cool temperatures will return with light snow showers. Below 1000m, the snowpack will gradually stabilise during the day. Above 1000m, large areas of unstable snow will still be present, mainly on steep W, NW, N and NE aspects where avalanches will occur. The avalanche hazard will be High (Category 4). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Snow at sea level on Tuesday. ICING: A brief thaw overnight being replaced by cold temperatures again on Wednesday. COMMENT: Large areas of unstable snow in many gullies and scarp slopes. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- CREAG MEAGAIDH AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS TUE 6/2/01 Heavy snowfall overnight and throughout the day on a gale force North East wind. This has resulted in deep accumulations of highly unstable windslab forming on South East through West to North aspects above 600 metres. Cross loading into sheltered gullies has also affected North East aspects. The avalanche hazard is High (Category 4). Fresh avalanche debris was noted on South West and South aspects. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK WED 7/2/01 Further heavy snowfall overnight on a strong Southerly wind will accumulate highly unstable windslab on West through North to East aspects above 650 metres. West to North aspects will be particularly affected. Later, snow showers on a fresh North West wind will redistribute fresh unstable windslab on North East through West to South West aspects above 650 metres. The avalanche hazard will be High (Category 4) and avalanches will occur. Cornices will remain large and unstable throughout the period. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Snow at all levels, good cover above 600 metres. ICING: Lots of good ice, but now buried. COMMENT: Forget the climbing for a while, get the ski touring gear out! ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS TUE 6/2/01 Further snowfall and heavy drifting have continued to load windslab onto S through to N aspects and some sheltered NE aspects. Stability is poor down to valley level and avalanche debris was noted on the A93 from an avalanche on the West face of Carn Dubh. The avalanche hazard is High (Category 4). Large cornices have now formed. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK WED 7/2/01 There will be a brief rise in the freezing level overnight but heavy snow will still fall at around the 1000 metre level. This will accumulate on mainly NW to NE aspects but instability will also persist on S through to NW aspects. Snow showers on Wednesday will start to build weakly bonded windslab on E to S aspects. The avalanche hazard will be High (Category 4) and avalanches will occur. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Falling to valley level today (06/02/01) with very deep drifts in places. ICING: Buried on above mentioned aspects. COMMENT: Extremely careful route choice required due to the complex aspect situation. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS TUE 6/2/01 Extreme storm conditions continue with heavy snowfall, cool temperatures and strong winds that have now changed from the East to South-West in the northern Corries. The wind shift has changed the loading pattern. Crag aprons have new slab and large cornices were observed. Poor visibility has limited avalanche observations. The avalanche hazard is High (category 4). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK WED 7/2/01 The storm conditions will continue. In addition, the freezing level will rise to 1000 metres overnight and there will be another prevailing wind change from the South to the North- West. Avalanches will occur on nearly all aspects due to cornice collapse, also slab avalanches on scarp slopes, gully aprons and other loaded slopes. These avalanches will start from elevations as low as 500 metres. The avalanche hazard will be High (Category 4). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Snow to the valley floor. ICING: Ice will see some growth while going through the forecast melt-freeze cycle but will need to be approached after this storm with a very careful eye. COMMENT: Heavy travelling and safe options in the mountains are very limited. Snow stability will not improve until this storm is long gone. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- GLENCOE AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS TUE 6/2/01 Heavy snowfall overnight and through today with strong winds predominantly from the East have formed highly unstable deep accumulations of windslab in all sheltered gullies and on corrie headwalls mainly of a Southwest through to North aspect above 750 metres. Under field test clean easy shears were attained at several layers in the snowpack. The avalanche hazard is High (Category 4). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK WED 7/2/01 Heavy falls of new snow overnight and strong Southerly winds will form unstable accumulations of windslab in all sheltered gullies and on slopes with a West through to Northeast aspect. A temporary rise in temperature will occur before colder conditions return with Northwesterly winds and snow showers. During this period avalanches will occur.The avalanche hazard will be High (Category 4) with a degree of stabilisation later with colder conditions. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: New snow above 100m. ICING: Ice on rocks and paths above 200m. COMMENT: Deep unstable windslab in many gullies -------------------------------------------------------------------------------