NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SAT 9/2/02 The very strong Westerly winds finally eased and after it rained over the top there were a few snow showers above 600 metres. A crust has formed on all aspects and mostly this supports a person on foot. There are some high pockets of soft undistrurbed snow above 1000 metres on a North-East aspect. Across the terrain the snowpack is strong following the thaw and freeze cycle. Small well formed cornices appear to be reasonably strong in the present temperatures. The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SUN 10/2/02 Lighter West-South-West winds and some snow will contribute to further accumulations of unconsolidated snow on North-East aspects above 1050 metres. There will be little change in overall stability which is good except for pockets, in those areas described, of newly formed slab. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: On the plateau some, but not all, NE aspects have reasonable ski touring cover. ICING: If there was as much ice on the near vertical as there is on the near horizontal things would be just fine. COMMENT: Quite variable shear tests were reported. LOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SAT 9/2/02 Strong SW winds and snow overnight and during Saturday have formed fresh areas of unstable soft slab in sheltered locations. Greatest accumulations are on NE through to E to SE aspects above 900m. Scarp slopes, crag aprons and tops of gullies are particularly effected. Avalanche activity observed on the above aspects, Aonach Mor. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). Unstable cornices above these aspects. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SUN 10/2/02 Snow showers with a WSW airflow will continue to see areas of soft slab form in sheltered locations during the forecast period. Avalanches are likely on sheltered NE through to E to SE aspects above 900m. Scarp slopes, crag aprons and tops of gullies will be particularly affected. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). Cornices will remain unstable. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Fresh snow lying above 700m ICING: Improving, colder on Sunday COMMENT: Caution advised with regard to route choice, particularly approach slopes and exits. GLENCOE AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SAT 9/2/02 Colder conditions have re-frozen much of the old snowpack at higher altitudes. New snow has fallen above 800m. Wind transportation by the strong South-West airflow has formed deep accumulations of potentially unstable windslab on steep North-East to South-East slopes and in sheltered gullies mainly above 1000m. The avalanche hazard in areas where deep windslab exists is Considerable (Category 3): elswhere stability is generally good with a marked improvement to climbing conditions AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SUN 10/2/02 Snow showers will continue throughout the period with fresh- strong West-South-West winds. Windslab will continue to accumulate in sheltered locations. Greatest of these will be on slopes above 900m with a North to South-East aspect and in gullies sheltered from the prevailing wind. With freezing levels of around 900m deep accumulations will be unstable. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). The possibility of more prolonged snow later on Sunday exists: this will require careful assesment with a potential increase in hazard. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Snow above 850m ICING: Icy surface forming on much of snow COMMENT: Conditions improving on some higher routes. Cornices will be prone to collapse. SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SAT 9/2/02 Heavy rain at all levels overnight has significantly reduced the snow cover below 900 metres. Cooler temperatures have refrozen the snowpack leaving it generally firm but occasionally crusty. Very light snow showers have had no effect on the snowpack that is well bonded with isolated moderately bonded areas. These are to be found in deeper deposits on N to E aspects above 1000 metres. The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SUN 10/2/02 Snow showers will begin to accumulate fresh deposits on N through to SE aspects above 900 metres. Cover will be general rather than confined to sheltered locations and should therefore not achieve much depth. New snow will be unstable on the firm snow-ice base and care should be taken with any deeper accumulations on steeper ground. The avalanche hazard will be Moderate (Category 2). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Best above 900 metres. ICING: Firm occasionally crusty snow-ice present. COMMENT: Much firmer conditions underfoot. CREAG MEAGAIDH AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SAT 9/2/02 General snowpack stability has much improved with recent thaw-freeze cycles with hard weight bearing snow at altitudes above 800 metres. However snow showers, heavy at times on a strong West-North-West wind are beginning to build isolated deposits of fresh moderately to weakly bonded windslab on North-East through East to South-East aspects above 850 metres. Up to 50cm depth of fresh slab on Easterly aspects. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). The tops of steep sheltered slopes, gullies and hollows are particularly affected but in most cases easily avoided. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SUN 10/2/02 Snow showers will continue tonight and during the day with drifting on a strong West-South-West wind occurring. Moderately to weakly bonded windslab will build on North through East to South-East aspects above 850 metres. Sheltered gullies, hollows and the tops of steep slopes will be particularly affected. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). Triggering with low additional loads may be possible where deeper deposits over-lie old hard snow deposits. Fresh cornice fringes will build on sheltered aspects. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Patchy cover with fresh snow lying above 800 metres. ICING: Improving but still poor at bottoms of routes. COMMENT: Nice to be on neve rather than knee deep slush! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------