NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS FRI 4/1/02 Clear and less windy conditions, with a rise in temperature have continued the steady stabilisation of the snowpack. However, on steep North-West and North aspects above 1000 metres, pockets of buried surface hoar lie beneath the most recent slab. Easy shears on the surface hoar layer were evident, but without fracture propagation. The new slab is generally shallow and easily avoidable. The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SAT 5/1/02 Rising temperatures and rain to the summits overnight will lead to a period of instability. Shallow wet slabs may run on the surface hoar pockets. By morning a return to dry and colder conditions will start to stabilise the snowpack once more. Some residual weaknesses may still persist on steep open slopes and gully exits above 950 metres on mainly North-West and North aspects. The avalanche hazard will be Moderate (Category 2). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Snow from 300m, but thin cover everywhere. Some easy gullies just about complete. ICING: Very poor, and tonight's thaw won't help. COMMENT: A spell of full winter required. LOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS FRI 4/1/02 Warmer conditions during today have started to thaw the snowpack at all levels. Localised areas of unstable slab are still present, mainly on steep slopes, gullies and crag aprons with a NW to NE aspect above 850m. Elsewhere the snowpack is generally well bonded. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SAT 5/1/02 Rain overnight will be replaced by slightly cooler temperatures and light snow during Saturday morning. The existing snowpack will stabilise at all levels. Localised areas of fresh windslab will form, mainly at the tops of N and E facing slopes and gullies above 1000m. The avalanche hazard will be Moderate (Category 2). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Snow level gradually receding up the hillside. ICING: Freezing level lowering back to 1200m on Saturday. COMMENT: Current thaw means that climbing conditions are deteriorating. GLENCOE AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS FRI 4/1/02 Milder conditions with Southerly winds have reduced the snow cover at lower levels. Greatest accumulations are to be found in the higher corries and in sheltered gullies. Isolated areas of potentially unstable windslab remain mainly at the top of summit gullies and in other sheltered areas on Northerly slopes above 900m. The avalanche hazard in these localised areas is Considerable (Category 3), elsewhere the snow-pack is generally stable. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SAT 5/1/02 Heavy rain overnight will initially give a period of higher instability in areas where deeper accumulations of snow exist on steeper slopes. Stability will improve by morning as drier and slightly colder conditions affect the area. With only the possibility of isolated snow showers above 800m, the avalanche hazard will be Moderate (Category 2) in sheltered gullies and on steep slopes. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Snow above 500m. Deep soft snow in some higher gullies General cover remains thin. ICING: Ice on rocks and paths above 250m. COMMENT: Milder conditions with heavy rain overnight will considerably reduce snow and ice cover. SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS FRI 4/1/02 Highly localised areas of unstable windslab are to be found in very sheltered locations on NW to NE aspects. Stability is poor with hard slab shearing cleanly on soft slab on a test slope of 35 degrees. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). The majority of the snowpack is either sparse or well bonded. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SAT 5/1/02 There will be a period of instability overnight and early Saturday as milder air with some rain moves across the area. Generally the snowpack will tend to consolidate with localised areas of moderately bonded windslab being found in very sheltered locations on NW to NE aspects. Careful route choice will avoid these locations and recently formed cornices. The avalanche hazard will be Moderate (Category 2). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Best on E to S aspects. Exposed areas have been wind scoured. ICING: Watercourses have been the better option. COMMENT: Fluctuating temperatures may improve conditions. CREAG MEAGAIDH AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS FRI 4/1/02 Variable light winds have had little change to present snowpack distribution and slightly milder daytime temperatures are slowly aiding consolidation of snowpack. Isolated areas of moderately bonded windslab exist on North-West through North to East aspects above 850 metres. Generally all but the deepest gullies and hollows of a Southerly aspect remain windscoured. The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SAT 5/1/02 Milder air with heavy rain at first on a strong South-West wind will bring about a brief period of instability. Isolated areas of moderately bonded windslab found in sheltered gullies, hollows and the tops of steep lee slopes of a North-West through North to East aspects above 850 metres will become heavy and saturated. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3) with avalanches likely. Cornices will also be prone to collapse as milder air persists. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Snow at all levels, variable depths due to drifting. ICING: Remaining good on exposed watercourses, unconsolidated snow in-between. COMMENT: Could do with the pineapple express to rattle through, followed by a freeze!! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------