LOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SAT 23/2/02 Heavy snow showers and strong Westerly winds have loaded sheltered slopes with large areas of unstable soft slab. Greatest accumulations are on NE, E and SE facing slopes and gullies. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). Avalanche activity observed on E and SE aspects at 1200m, Aonach Mor. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SUN 24/2/02 Snow showers are expected overnight and during Sunday, with a NW wind gradually easing and backing. Large areas of unstable soft windslab will continue to form in sheltered locations. Greatest accumulations will be on NE, E, SE and S facing slopes and gullies, where avalanches are likely. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Fresh snow at all levels (Saturday). Deep soft snow on E aspects. ICING: Remaining cold through out the period. COMMENT: Winds continuing to ease. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- CREAG MEAGAIDH AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SAT 23/2/02 Overnight heavy snow and almost constant heavy snow showers through the day on a strong then fresh North-West wind. This has continued to build very deep and weakly bonded windslab on North through East to South aspects above 800 metres. Loose snow avalanches were observed from steep North-East and East aspects. The avalanche hazard is High (Category 4). Field tests showed 57cm of foot penetration and very easy shearing of deep deposits. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SUN 24/2/02 Temperatures are to remain low and snowfall continue on a strong North-West then moderate West wind. Drifting will continue and weakly bonded deep windslab will be present on North through East to South aspects above 800 metres. The avalanche hazard will be High (Category 4) and avalanches will occur. Triggering of fresh slab with low additional loads will be probable particularly on steep aspects. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Snow at all levels, reasonable cover on plateau. ICING: Mostly buried in deep soft snow. COMMENT: Large unstable cornices present and building on North and East aspects. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- GLENCOE AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SAT 23/2/02 New snow overnight and for much of Saturday is lying at all levels.Westerly winds have formed deep accumulations of windslab on N-E to S facing slopes and in sheltered gullies mainly above 800m. Where deep accumulations exist on steeper slopes bonding to the underlying older snow ice is poor and easy shears were attained under test resulting in slab releases of up to 30cm thick. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3) where deep windslab lies, elsewhere climbing conditions are good with widespread snow ice on exposed slopes. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SUN 24/2/02 Cold conditions for period and Westerly winds, strong overnight becoming moderate by day will affect the area. Snow showers will fall at most levels. Westerly winds will re-distribute snow forming windslab initially on E to S aspects and in sheltered areas such as gullies and later on more northerly aspects as the wind goes to S-W. With temperatures remaining cold bonding to the older snow ice will remain poor. Triggering will be possible with low additional loads in areas where deeper windslab exists making avalanches likely. In these areas the avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3) elsewhere the snowpack will be firm and icy. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: New snow all levels ICING: Ice on rocks above 100m. Old snow icy. COMMENT: Climbing conditions improving where old snow exists with a good day (cold and calm)in prospect. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SAT 23/2/02 Cold temperatures, heavy snow and strong Westerly winds have been the main weather events of the past 24 hours. It is mostly on East aspects that there is up to 50 centimetres of foot penetration but there is also some East aspect terrain that is scoured. On other aspects the distribution is variable as well. There is a moderate shear in the new slab, otherwise the snowpack seems reasonably stable. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SUN 24/2/02 Winds will lighten and be from the West and later North-West. Temperatures will remain well below freezing with snow easing to showers for most of Sunday. Due to the continued cold temperatures there has been very slow setlement rate of the storm slab. Avalanches will occur on steep, convex terrain above 900 metres and nearly any aspect. The slab will be easily identified due to the transition to deep foot penetration. Some downslope areas will be scoured while upslope on the same aspect will be heavily loaded. The avalanche hazard will be High (Category 4). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Safe access to the plateau should give good touring conditions. ICING: Popular routes with appropriate safe access are being well used. COMMENT: Quite cool on those long belay stances. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SAT 23/2/02 New snow was from valley level. On NE through to SE aspects above 800 metres stabilty of the snowpack was poor. Field tests revealed poorly bonded layers in locations that had high foot penetration. Debris was noted at the foot of gullies on a NE aspect. The avalanche hazard is High (Category 4). Exposed slopes remain icy. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SUN 24/2/02 There will be further snow showers but the winds will ease. New snow will fall on most aspects but weakly bonded windslab will continue to be found in sheltered locations on NE to SE aspects above 800 metres. The avalanche hazard will be High (Category 4) and avalanches will occur. Cornices will be suspect. Exposed areas remain icy. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: From valley level, unconsolidated until higher up. ICING:Streams beginning to freeze up, hope for some quality ice yet. COMMENT: Touring is good above 800m. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------