NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS WED 6/2/02 Snow showers and drifting on a strong North-West wind continued overnight and into early afternoon. Although Northerly aspects have seen some stabilisation, there was extreme instability in new slab deposits on East and South aspects. Repeated natural and triggered avalanche activity was noted on a South-East facing test site at 950 metres. The avalanche hazard is High (Category 4). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK THU 7/2/02 Rising South-West winds will bring a few snow showers overnight, but heavy rain and rapidly rising temperatures during Thursday. New slab layers on East and South aspects will become saturated and highly unstable. The deep-seated weaknesses previously reported on most aspects will become the bed surfaces for wet slab avalanches. Avalanches will occur on all aspects where significant accumulations exist above 850 metres, with long runout possible. Cornices, which exist above North, East and South aspects, will be liable to collapse. The avalanche hazard will be High (Category 4). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Reasonable cover over 700m. ICING: Improving on many routes, but choking protection cracks in places. COMMENT: Colder again late pm Thursday. LOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS WED 6/2/02 Strong WNW winds overnight have formed fresh areas of soft unstable windslab on sheltered slopes. Greatest accumulations are on sheltered NE, E, SE and S facing slopes and gullies above 800m.The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). Avalanche debris noted on NE and E aspects at 1100m on Aonach Mor. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK THU 7/2/02 Mild conditions and rain at all levels are expected during Thursday. This will cause a period of wet snow instability on many aspects during Thursday. Wet snow avalanches will occur on NE, E, SE and S facing slopes and gullies. The avalanche hazard will be High (Category 4). Cornices will also be prone to collapse. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Good cover above 900m. ICING: Freezing level rising above the summits during Thursday. Comment: Wind strength increasing on Thursday. GLENCOE AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS WED 6/2/02 Snow and variable winds last night have produced some heavy drifts in sheltered locations mainly above 900m. Deepest accumulations are to be found on East to South aspects and in sheltered gullies and hollows. Fluctuating overnight temperatures took freezing levels above the tops for a time improving stability of these wind blown deposits. The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK THU 7/2/02 South-West winds and occasional snow showers overnight will add further layers of windslab on to sheltered slopes and gullies above 900m. Mild conditions with heavy rain at all levels on Thursday will saturate the snowpack initially reducing stability. Avalanches are likely where deep accumulations of windslab exist mainly on East to South facing slopes and in sheltered gullies above 900m. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3) CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Above 700m on Wednesday ICING: Snow developing an icy crust above 850m. COMMENT: Snowed up classic buttress routes receiving ascents on Wednesday. Heavy rain turning to snow later Thursday. Cornices will be prone to collapse. SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS WED 6/2/02 Gale force winds are stripping N aspects and redistributing the snow. Sheltered locations mainly on E to S aspects above 950 metres are holding deep deposits which show poor stability even on low angled slopes. The avalanche hazard is High (Category 4). Exposed slopes are scoured. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK THU 7/2/02 There will be a return to strong SW winds and rain at all levels. Recent accumulations in sheltered locations on any aspect will become increasingly unstable and there will be a period of avalanche activity. Cornices will be prone to collapse. The avalanche hazard will be High (Category 4) and avalanches will occur. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Possible to ski tour from Glenshee car park. ICING: Poor observation conditions. Strong snow-ice base exists above 900 metres. COMMENT: Likely to cool down later in forecast period. CREAG MEAGAIDH AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS WED 6/2/02 Moderate snowfall overnight and during the day on a gale force North-West wind has built deep accumulations of weakly bonded hard windslab. North through East to South aspects above 750 metres are affected, with deepest accumulations found on Easterly aspects. Field tests showed weak sub-surface layers are present and avalanche activity was observed on North- East and East aspects. The avalanche hazard is High (Category 4). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK THU 7/2/02 Snow showers will continue overnight but turn to heavy rain as temperatures rise quickly above summits on a mild, severe gale force South-West wind during the day. This will bring about a period of high instability in the area as deep weakly bonded windslab deposits on North through East to South aspects above 750 metres become moist and heavy. Large cornices present above most steep North to East aspects will also become prone to collapse. The avalanche hazard will be Very High (Category 5) and avalanches will occur. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Good cover above 700 metres. ICING: Buried and poor. COMMENT: Dramatic thaw! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------