NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SUN 11/2/01 The weather for the past 24 hours has produced SW winds up to 90 mph. There has also been a mixture of snow and rain with the freezing level around 900 metres. There is a new slab instability above 850 metres on North and East aspects that shears easily in field tests. The deeper snowpack above 800 metres is still cold and preserving the older instability. On steep ground the surface snow sluffs easily creating loose snow avalanches. The avalanche hazard is High (Category 4). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK MON 12/2/01 Strong SW winds will continue with snow above 800 metres. The exact location of the freezing level will determine the extent of avalanche activity. The surface and new slab instability will persist until a cooling cycle occurs. Cooling will reduce the widespread nature of the existing hazard. Avalanches will occur due to new slab instability mainly on North and East aspects above 750 metres. The avalanche hazard is High (Category 4). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Rain soaked below 600m. ICING: Will show some growth when the cooling returns. COMMENT: Generally limited options in avalanche terrain. Steep snow gullies have loose snow avalanche hazard. LOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SUN 11/2/01 Rain at all levels last night resulted in a period of high instability. During today, the snowpack has started to consolidate although wet snow instabilities are still present, mainly on steep Northerly aspects. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK MON 12/2/01 Colder temperatures during Monday will stabilise the existing snowpack. Snow showers and strong W to NW winds will form new areas of fresh snow in sheltered locations. Greatest accumulations will be at the tops of NE, E and SE aspects above 1000m. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). Old snow will be generally stable. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Wet snow at all levels today (Sunday) ICING: Freezing level lowering to 800m on Monday. COMMENT: Wet snow at lower levels. GLENCOE AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SUN 11/2/01 The strong SW airflow has brought thaw conditions up to 900 metres. Avalanches have occurred in several locations such as Coire Gabhail headwall, Summit Gully and Coire nam Beith headwall. Deep wet slab and layered windslab remains unstable and cornices are prone to collapse. The avalanche hazard is High (Category 4) AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK MON 12/2/01 Slightly colder temperatures will begin to stabilise the old snowpack. Snow showers above 900 metres will deposit areas of shallow new windslab on NE to SW facing slopes and in sheltered summit gullies. Large unstable cornices will continue to develop. New windslab lying on steep scarp slopes will weakly bonded. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Wet snow above 400m. ICING: Thawing ice above 400m. COMMENT: Climbing limited to ridges and buttresses in thaw conditions. SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SUN 11/2/01 Milder temperatures and rain have moistened the surface layers of the snowpack on all but the highest summits. Beneath 900 metres soft unconsolidated snow is melting fairly quickly. At 950 metres surface layers are wet with cold dry slab existing within the snowpack. Unstable areas exist especially in steeper sheltered locations. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK MON 12/2/01 Showers overnight should fall as snow from 1000 metres causing fresh accumulations to build on NE to SE aspects. More isolated snow showers from 800 metres on Monday will be deposited on E to S aspects. Stability will be poor as deposits build over firmer snow-ice. Drifting will cause deepest accumulations to build in sheltered locations. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Wet snow exists from valley levels but thawing beneath 950 metres (11/02/01). ICING: Will improve as temperatures start to drop again. COMMENT: Refrozen snow will become firm and icy. CREAG MEAGAIDH AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SUN 11/2/01 A thaw has set in at lower altitudes, causing the snowpack to become soft and saturated. A number of wet slab avalanches have occurred and avalanche activity was observed in Coire Ardair. At clifftop height at around 1000 metres, snowfall has remained reasonably dry and heavy drifting onto lee slopes of a North-West through North-East to East aspects is occurring. The avalanche hazard is High (Category 4). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK MON 12/2/01 It will remain relatively warm overnight with further snow showers across the summits. The freezing level will then drop to around 900 metres, helping to consolidate the underlying wet snowpack. However winds will swing to the North-West causing fresh windslab deposits to form on sheltered lee slopes of a North-East to South-East aspect above 900 metres. Large cornices will continue to build. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Main cover above 600 metres. Disappearing rapidly at lower altitudes. ICING: A bit wetter. The thaw has made little difference to the amount of ice. It remains good. COMMENT: Large cornices are evident above the upper Post Face and Easy Gully and in the Inner Coire. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------