NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS TUE 19/2/02 Overnight, strong North Westerly winds, fresh snow deposits and temperatures down to minus 7 degrees at the summit have formed further slab on East and South East aspects above 900 metres. Easy shears were observed of surface slab on a harder slab layer at 30cm. The avalanche hazard is High (Category 4). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK WED 20/2/02 Additional snow is forecast with temperatures rising to just below freezing at the summit. The strong West becoming North-East winds will contribute to a widespread distribution of the slab, covering more aspects especially East through to South-West above 900 metres, where avalanches will occur. The avalanche hazard will be High (Category 4). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: There will be large areas of slab instability but plateau cover is improving. ICING: Still good in places. Some loss due to overuse. COMMENT: Cornices and scarp slopes particularly suspect. LOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS TUE 19/2/02 A brief thaw-freeze cycle overnight has aided the consolidation process. Areas of weakly bonded soft slab are still present. Greatest accumulations are on NE to SE aspects above 1100m. Gullies and scarp slopes are particularly affected. Below 1100m the snowpack has a surface crust and is generally stable. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). Avalanche debris noted below many of the mentioned aspects, Aonach Mor. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK WED 20/2/02 Strong NW winds with heavy snow showers overnight will see fresh areas of weakly bonded slab form in sheltered locations. Greatest accumulations will be on NE through to SE aspects above 800m: as winds become NE on Wednesday redistribution to S and SW aspects will take place. Avalanches will occur, notably where fresh accumulations add to existing unstable snow deposits. The avalanche hazard will be High (Category 4). Cornices will reform. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Best cover above 800m, ICING: Remaining cold, wind blown slopes becoming hard frozen. COMMENT: Strong winds for Wednesday. GLENCOE AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS TUE 19/2/02 A melt-freeze cycle overnight has affected the snowpack at all levels. All slopes exposed to the wind have become icy. In sheltered locations such as gullies and on slopes with a North to South-East aspect deep accumulations of dense windslab exist. On steep slopes mainly above 900m these accumulations are weakly bonded with triggering possible under low additional loads i.e. a single climber or skier. The avalanche hazard is High (Category 4) AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK WED 20/2/02 Heavy snow showers on Tuesday evening and on Wednesday with severe gale force Northerly winds will form fresh accumulations of unstable windslab mainly above 850m on slopes with an East through South to West aspect and in all gullies and hollows sheltered from the full force of the wind. With freezing levels lowering from 900m to 600m stability of fresh windslab will be poor. Deeper accumulations of old windslab will also remain weakly bonded. Avalanches will occur where deep windslab exists. The avalanche hazard will be High (Category 4). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: New snow above 400m ICING: Ice above 700m becoming more widespread. COMMENT: Climbing conditions will improve mainly on ridges and buttresses with continuing cold conditions. Windslab and cornices will require great care.Very windy! SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS TUE 19/2/02 It has remained cold with winds gusting over 100mph overnight. Weakly bonded windslab is to be found in very sheltered locations on NE through to S aspects above 900 metres but it is E and SE aspects, which hold deepest deposits. Debris was noted on low angled slopes on E aspects. Starting zones were from scarp slopes at around 980 metres. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). Exposed snow-ice is very icy. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK WED 20/2/02 Further snow showers and subsequent drifting will maintain the poor stability found in sheltered locations on NE through to S aspects above 900 metres. The deepest areas will still be found on E and SE aspects and here avalanches are likely. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). Developing cornices will be suspect. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Icy in places above 900m. ICING: No significant growth, water running above 900m. COMMENT: Cornices on E and SE aspects will be suspect. CREAG MEAGAIDH AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS TUE 19/2/02 A brief rise in temperatures and light rain overnight have caused serious instabilities with large natural avalanches from many North-East, East and South-East aspects. However deep deposits of weakly bonded windslab still exist on North through East to South aspects above 850 metres. Although cold daytime temperatures have left a thin icy crust, deep weakly bonded sub-surface layers still exist and an easy shear was obtained in field tests. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK WED 20/2/02 Throughout the forecast period snow showers are to continue on a severe gale force wind. Wind will swing from West round to North-Easterly and windslab will form on North-East through East to South-East aspects above 850 metres. East to South aspects will be particularly affected. Bonding of fresh deposits will remain poor due to icy surface crust and cold temperatures, triggering of fresh deposits will be possible with low additional loads. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3) and avalanches are likely. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Main cover above 600 metres. ICING: Much improved but still masses of soft snow around. COMMENT: Large unstable cornices above most North and East aspects. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------