NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SUN 3/2/02 From 20 to 40 centimetres of new snow was noted on North and West aspects above 1000 metres. This is still in a soft slab state where sampled and gave very easy shears on crust. It did not show any propogation characteristics even under heavy additional load conditions. The winds for snow transport were mainly from the East and temperatures at the summit did not go above minus 2 degrees. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK MON 4/2/02 More snow is forecast and this will fall above 800 metres. Winds from the North-West and then South-South-West will add to the highly variable distribution of the recent snow. Nearly all aspects and pockets protected from the prevailing wind will have a new slab that has had little opportunity for stabilization. Avalanches will occur mainly above 950 metres on large open terrain and small convex rolls. The avalanche hazard will be High (Category 4). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Vastly increased on the plateau. ICING: Neither loss nor gain in the past 24 hours. COMMENT: Watch carefully for any difference in weather forecast values. LOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SUN 3/2/02 Fresh snow overnight and during Sunday has started to form fresh snow accumulations on many aspects. Distribution is variable, but accumulations of up to 30cms can be found in many sheltered locations. The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). Snow-ice is also forming widely above 900m on wind blown slopes. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK MON 4/2/02 Snow showers will continue overnight and during Monday with a strengthening South Easterly airflow. As the wind increases, fresh unstable windslab will form in sheltered locations during Monday afternoon. Main accumulations will be on NW to NE aspects above 900m. Avalanches are likely in these locations later in the forecast period. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). Cornices will also form above these aspects. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Fresh snow falling down to 300m. ICING: Snow-ice continuing to form on exposed slopes above 800m. COMMENT: Avalanche hazard increasing later on Monday as the winds increase in strength. GLENCOE AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SUN 3/2/02 Heavy snow showers with fresh SE winds have deposited new snow on all slopes above 300m. Soft unstable windslab has started to form in most sheltered areas and in gullies above 850m. The greatest accumulations of windslab are on W through to NNE aspects mainly on scarp slopes around the tops of gullies. Where these new deposits lie on steep slopes and on the old snow cover the avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK MON 4/2/02 During Sunday night snow showers with fresh NW winds will be followed by strong SSE winds with more persistent snow. Areas of windslab will continue to form in all sheltered locations. Because of the varying wind direction and strengths weakly bonded windslab will be present on most slopes above 800m. Where deep accumulations exist on steep slopes avalanches are likely: the avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: New snow above 300m. ICING: Above 850m. COMMENT: Caution is required where deep accumulations of fresh snow exist on steep slopes. Buttresses are the safer option. SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SUN 3/2/02 There was new snowfall at all levels with developments mainly on NW to NE aspects. New accumulations are generally shallow but unstable where formed over existing snow-ice. Deeper areas were to be found on scarp slopes where new unstable cornices are developing. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK MON 4/2/02 It will remain cold with further snowfall from the SSE during the morning. Above 900 metres in sheltered locations on N through E aspects wind transportation and snowfall will lead to further loading of an already weakly bonded snowpack and avalanches will occur. The avalanche hazard will be High (Category 4). Cornices should be treated with caution. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Ski touring reasonable above 900 metres. ICING: Improving. COMMENT: Cornices will be potential triggers. CREAG MEAGAIDH AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SUN 3/2/02 It has been snowing continuously since early morning. Fortunately winds have been light and variable so windslab build up has been minimal. Soft slab now lies on all aspects above 800 metres. The underlying snowpack consists of moderately well bonded hard slab and greatest accumulations are on North to East aspects. Fresh snow deposits consist of powder, so even light winds are causing spindrift in sheltered areas. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK MON 4/2/02 Overnight, snow will continue to fall on a strong North-West wind building windslab on East to South aspects. Winds will then swing to South-South-East and increase to storm force. Deep accumulations of unstable windslab will rapidly form on sheltered slopes of a North-West through North-East to East aspect above 800 metres. The already large cornices above these aspects will continue to grow. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3) and avalanches are likely. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Fresh snow at all levels. Main cover above 700 metres. ICING: Poor. Routes are thin with poor quality ice at lower altitudes. COMMENT: Snow cover is steadily improving. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------