CREAG MEAGAIDH AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SUN 10/2/02 Prolonged heavy snow showers on a strong West-North-West wind has lead to a significant build up of fresh weakly to moderately bonded windslab. North through East to South-East aspects above 800 metres are affected, with up to 100cm build up on some East and North-East aspects. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). Slab avalanche easily triggered by observers on a North-East aspect. Large fresh cornices also continue to build. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK MON 11/2/02 Snow showers will continue on a severe gale force South-West becoming West wind. Deep deposits of weakly to moderately bonded windslab will continue to build on North through East to South-East aspects above 800 metres. Weak sub-surface layers are present and triggering will be possible with low additional loads, especially where deposits are deepest and over lying old hard snow. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3) with avalanches likely. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Improving cover above 800 metres. ICING: Poor at low altitudes, improving in colder conditions. COMMENT: Insufficient cover and depth of snow for ski touring. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- LOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SUN 10/2/02 Snow showers and strong SW winds have continued to form fresh areas of unstable windslab in sheltered locations. Under test this slab is weakly bonded. Greatest accumulations are on N through to E to SE aspects above 900m. Sheltered gullies, scarp slopes and steep slopes are particularly effected. Avalanche debris noted below many of the major gullies on the Ben, and on the above aspects on Aonach Mor. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). Unstable cornices present. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK MON 11/2/02 Moderate amounts of snow overnight with strong SW/W winds will see significant amounts of fresh unstable snow form. Avalanches will occur on N through to E to SE aspects above 900m. Sheltered gullies, scarp slopes and steep slopes will be particularly effected. As temperatures rise on Monday the snowpack will become increasingly unstable. The avalanche hazard will be High (Category 4). Cornices prone to collapse. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Snow lying above 600m ICING: Improving slowly. COMMENT: Caution advised with regard to route choice, particularly approaches and exits. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- GLENCOE AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SUN 10/2/02 Snow last night and today has fallen above mainly above 700m. Wind transportation by the strong South-Westerly airflow has continued to form deep accumulations of unstable windslab on steep North to South-East slopes and in sheltered gullies mainly above 900m. Field tests today gave relatively easy shears at 950m. The avalanche hazard in areas where deep windslab exists is Considerable (Category 3) elswhere stability is generally good with snow ice foming on windward slopes giving a marked improvement to climbing conditions on higher routes AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK MON 11/2/02 Snow will continue through Sunday night with strong-gale force South-West winds. Unstable windslab will continue to form on slopes above 900m with a North to South-East aspect and in all gullies sheltered from the prevailing wind. Milder temperatures with rain and sleet on Monday will further load existing weakly bonded windslab. Avalanches will occur in areas where deep windslab exists.The avalanche hazard will be High (Category 4) CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Snow above 700m ICING: Icy surface forming on much of snow COMMENT: Deep accumulations of windblown snow in sheltered areas. Cornices will be prone to collapse ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SUN 10/2/02 Snow showers have added to accumulations on North-East and East aspects. Easy shears of soft slab on crust were noted at the snow study site at 1100 metres in the Hell's Lum Crag area. In areas where the surface is a melt-freeze crust the snowpack stability is good. The largest cornices of the season were observed but they are reasonably strong. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK MON 11/2/02 Moderate snow amounts will add to existing slab instability which will become more widespread on North- East and East aspects above 1000 metres. Avalanches will occur on these slopes particularly steep convex shaped terrain with no downslope support. Areas that continue to have a melt-freeze crust at surface will have good stability. The avalanche hazard will be High (Category 4). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: The same areas on NE and E aspects that have the best snow cover also have poorest stability on steep convex terrain. ICING: With expectations of little ice it is possible to be pleasantly surprised in some locations. COMMENT: The winter playground was busy with all activities. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SUN 10/2/02 The snowpack is generally well bonded on all aspects. Isolated pockets of windslab exist in sheltered locations on NE to SE aspects above 900 metres. Scarp slopes, gully exits and steep burns hold greatest amounts. These fresh deposits are weakly bonded to the snow-ice beneath. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK MON 11/2/02 Unstable windslab will continue to build over firmer snow-ice in sheltered locations on N through to SE aspects overnight. With the freezing level at 1200 metres during Monday snow showers on the higher summits will increase the loading on the weakly bonded snowpack and avalanches will occur. The avalanche hazard will be High (Category 4). Exposed areas are scoured and icy. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Best above 900 metres. ICING: Improving but remaining crusty. COMMENT: Careful route choice required. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------