NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS MON 11/2/02 Once again in the past few days a dramatic melt-freeze cycle has gone through with maximum temperatures at the summit of nearly 3 degrees and winds from the West at over 100 mph. During the cooling cycle there have been moderate snow amounts above 1000 metres and snow showers down to 600 metres. The avalanche hazard is High (Category 4) due to storm instability. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK TUE 12/2/02 Continued strong Westerly winds and moderate amounts of new snow will maintain a storm instability in the snowpack. This instability will be mainly on East and South-East aspects above 850 metres and includes most approach slopes and exit terrain. Avalanches will occur on the aspects mentioned. The avalanche hazard will be High (Category 4). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Fresh snow above 800 metres. ICING: Chronic suffering from more melt than freeze. COMMENT: High avalanche hazard by definition means "the snowpack is weakly bonded in most places". LOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS MON 11/2/02 A dramatic thaw has lead to a period of high wet snow instability overnight. Cooler conditions during Monday have started to consolidate existing wet snow instabilities, leaving a thin breakable crust above 1100m. Some weakness is still present in remaining cool dry layers in the snowpack. These instabilities are generally restricted to steep N through E to SE aspects above 1000m. The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). Wet snow avalanche debris noted below many of the above aspects, Aonach Mor. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK TUE 12/2/02 Strong WSW winds with snow overnight will start to form fresh deposits of unstable windslab in sheltered locations. Overnight and early on Tuesday accumulations will form on steep slopes and gullies with N to E aspects above 1000m. As a cooler airflow turns NW on Tuesday, SE and S aspects will also become affected, with the hazard lowering in altitude to 900m. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). Cornices will reform above the mentioned aspects. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Receding rapidly today. ICING: Improving with the arrival of colder conditions on Tuesday. COMMENT: Hopefully returning wintry tomorrow. GLENCOE AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS MON 11/2/02 Very mild conditions with rain last night reduced the snow cover at lower levels. Slightly cooler temperatures today have brought wet snow/sleet and hail to the tops. On higher slopes mainly above 1000m with a North to East aspect and in sheltered gullies deep soft wet slab exists. Wet snow instabilities exist deep within these accumulations where they lie on steep ground. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3) AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK TUE 12/2/02 New snow overnight and on Tuesday will lie on the higher slopes. Strong Westerly winds will deposit weakly bonded windslab on to slopes above 900m with a North through to South-East aspect and in all gullies sheltered from the prevailing wind. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3) and avalanches are likely where deep accumulations of windslab form on steeper slopes and gullies. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Snow above 800m ICING: Highest levels only COMMENT: Colder conditions expected later on Tuesday will start to improve climbing conditions. Cornices will be prone to collapse SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS MON 11/2/02 The freezing level briefly rose to above the summits which led to an unstable period. Debris from a cornice collapse was noted on a NE aspect. Some consolidation followed but moderately to weakly bonded surface layers are still to be found in sheltered locations on NE to SE aspects above 900 metres. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK TUE 12/2/02 Unstable windslab will build over firmer snow-ice in sheltered locations on NE to SE aspects above 900 metres. Scarp slopes and gully exits will hold deepest deposits and avalanches will occur. The avalanche hazard will be High (Category 4). Exposed areas remain scoured and icy. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Best above 900 metres. ICING: Improvement in melt-freeze but still a way to go. COMMENT: Becoming cooler on Tuesday PM. CREAG MEAGAIDH AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS MON 11/2/02 Overnight a warm front passed through the region with heavy rain and mild temperatures. A period of instability ensued with cornice collapse causing a number of avalanches on North to East aspects. Colder conditions have followed and although some consolidation has occurred, soft slab on North through East to South-East aspects above 800 metres is still showing weak or wet layers. Additionally above 1000 metres, fresh windslab is forming on the same aspects. Considerable (Category 3) avalanche hazard. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK TUE 12/2/02 Overnight, snow will continue to fall above 850 metres on a strong and variable westerly wind. Unstable windslab will continue to build at the tops of sheltered slopes on North through East to South-East aspects above 850 metres. At 1000 metres windslab build up will be rapid with colder temperatures and little consolidation. It will become colder during the day with drifting continuing on to the same aspects. Fresh cornices will continue to build. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). Avalanches are likely. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Main cover above 800 metres. ICING: Very poor at base of routes and not much better higher up. COMMENT: Snowing above 850 metres today (11.02.02). -------------------------------------------------------------------------------