NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS FRI 9/2/01 It was a clear, calm and cool day in the north Cairngorms. There has been some stabilization over time since the storm. However new surface hoar and old depth hoar at the base of the snowpack with a variety of easy shears in mid-pack give a poor stability situation. This unstable snowpack appears to be supported by forgiving terrain in most places. The easy shearing slab can be found down to 650 metres on nearly all aspects. Avalanche debris noted on a SE aspect at 950 metres. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SAT 10/2/01 Another major weather change will arrive with heavy snow, Southerly winds and low freezing levels. This will contribute to very poor stability on North aspects above 650 metres. The instability will also exist on other aspects. Avalanches will occur and the avalanche hazard will be High (Category 4). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: More snow coming and major redistribution on South aspects. ICING: Little change, neither growth nor depletion and, except for the steepest, covered in snow where no one has cleaned it off. COMMENT: Approach and exit slopes will require continuous evaluation. LOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS FRI 9/2/01 Settled conditions have continued to slowly consolidate the snowpack. However large areas of unstable snow are still present. Localised areas of weakly bonded snow are present on many slope aspects. Greatest accumulations are on steep slopes and gullies with a W through N to E aspect above 900 metres. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SAT 10/2/01 A change in the current conditions to storm force S winds with heavy snow from early on Saturday, will see fresh areas of weakly bonded windslab start to form. Greatest accumulations will be on sheltered steep slopes, gullies and corrie headwalls with a NW through to NE aspect where avalanches are likely. Where this forms on older hard scoured deposits it will be particularly suspect. Some sheltered W and E aspects may also be affected. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Snow remaining at all levels. ICING: Remaining cold. COMMENT: Some great off piste runs to be had today (Fri). Caution advised with route choice on Saturday, blizzard conditions expected. GLENCOE AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS FRI 9/2/01 Cold settled conditions continue to improve the general snowpack stability on all aspects. Instabilities remain within the snowpack on the steepest slopes where deep accumulations of old dense windslab exist. These accumulations are mainly to be found in sheltered gullies and on scarp slopes with a North west to North-Easterly aspect The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SAT 10/2/01 Snow heavy at times and strong Southerly winds will form highly unstable windslab in sheltered gullies and on slopes with a North-West to North-East aspect. Exit slopes of gullies and corrie headwalls will be particularly affected as the snowfall becomes heavier and temperatures rise during course of the day. Bonding to underlying layers of old snow will become poor as accumulations build. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3) and avalanches are likely. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Snow above 200m. ICING: Ice on rocks and paths above 100m. COMMENT: Conditions on hill will deteriorate on Saturday as winds increase giving significant windchill factor and blizzards. Fresh windslab will be very unstable SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS FRI 9/2/01 Cold calm conditions have prevailed allowing widespread surface hoar to develop. Some consolidation has taken place but unstable areas can be found in deeper deposits in mainly sheltered locations on any aspect. Cold surface temperatures are encouraging the development of unstable faceted crystals within the snowpack. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SAT 10/2/01 Snow will arrive by mid-morning on gale to severe gale force S winds. Fresh unstable deposits will rapidly build in sheltered locations on mainly NW to NE aspects but cross loading in to sheltered locations on other aspects may occur. Instability of recent deposits will persist in sheltered locations on other aspects. The avalanche hazard will become High (Category 4) and avalanches will occur. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Fresh snow to valley levels. ICING: Likely to be buried and will require clearing. COMMENT: Blizzard conditions expected on 10/02/01. CREAG MEAGAIDH AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS FRI 9/2/01 Very cold and relatively calm conditions have prevailed resulting in little change to the existing snowpack. Hard slab persists in gullies and hollows on East through South to South- West aspects above 800 metres. Although surface layers are reasonably well bonded due to the sun, lower more insulated layers have remained weak in the cold conditions. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SAT 10/2/01 It will remain cold and dry overnight, however by mid morning heavy snow will arrive on a severe gale force Southerly wind. This will particularly cause lee slopes of a North West to North- East aspect above 800 metres to be affected by fresh and highly unstable windslab. Sheltered areas on West and East aspects are also likely to be cross loaded with windslab in the very strong winds. Cornices will continue to grow. The avalanche hazard will be High (Category 4) and avalanches will occur. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Snow at all levels. Excellent ski touring conditions. ICING: Still good but unfortunately buried under lots of snow. COMMENT: Winds gusting to 80 mph and thigh deep snow on the Coire Ardair track (skis recommended), I can't wait! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------