GLENCOE AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SAT 2/3/02 Isolated areas of windslab are now present on many aspects above 800m. The accumulations that exist on NW through to SE facing slopes have become layered hard slab and this is moderately bonded. In sheltered areas the snowpack is weakly bonded on steep slopes and in all sheltered gullies above 800m. Where deep accumulations of windslab exist on steep slopes the avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SUN 3/3/02 A mild moist airflow will affect the area during Saturday night and on Sunday with strong westerly winds. The snowpack will start to thaw as the freezing level rises to near the summits. Wet snow instabilities will exist especially where accumulations of previously formed windslab is present on icy lower layers. The greatest hazard will be on most steep slopes and in gullies the avalanche hazard in these areas will be Considerable (Category 3) and avalanches are likely to occur. Cornices will become unstable and likely to collapse. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Snow above 500m. ICING: above 600m - but becoming 1130m. COMMENT: Climbing conditions generally good but milder wet weather is forecast. Condition may deteriorate fast and wet snow avalanches are likely on steep ground. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SAT 2/3/02 Strong North-Westerly winds overnight and during the day, accompanied by lessening snowfall, have caused further deep accumulations on East and South aspects. Cold temperatures have maintained existing instabilities on West and North aspects. Surface layers contain unusual quantities of large graupel pellets. These gave moderate shears at an East facing test site at 1100 metres. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SUN 3/3/02 Continuous snow overnight, becoming showery by daylight, will be accompanied by strong Westerly winds. This will add to recent unstable accumulations on all East and South aspects above 750 metres. Existing instabilities on West and North aspects will remain, although their distribution will be localised and some areas will be wind-scoured. Where the new loading buries the existing deep graupel layers, serious instabilities will exist. Avalanches, possibly including airborne-powder avalanches, will occur, mainly on East and South aspects above 750 metres, but also on other aspects. The avalanche hazard will be High (Category 4). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Snow at all levels. ICING: Recent snow has buried much of it. COMMENT: Rising temperatures during Sunday. LOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SAT 2/3/02 Snow showers with W to SW winds overnight have formed areas of weakly bonded soft slab in sheltered locations. Accumulations are isolated in distribution, and generally restricted to steep N through to E aspects above 900m. Areas of moderately well bonded hard windslab still remain on many slope aspects above 800m. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SUN 3/3/02 Snow with strong W winds during the forecast period will see fresh accumulations of weakly bonded soft slab form above 1100m. Sheltered steep slopes and gullies with NE through to SE aspects will be particularly affected. With increasing temperatures and snow turning to rain at lower levels, existing deposits of hard slab will become increasingly unstable on many slope aspects below 1100m. Avalanches are likely. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Best cover above 500m. ICING: Freezing levels rising to summit level today. COMMENT: Warmer and windy for Sunday. GLENCOE AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SAT 2/3/02 Isolated areas of windslab are now present on many aspects above 800m. The accumulations that exist on NW through to SE facing slopes have become layered hard slab and this is moderately bonded. In sheltered areas the snowpack is weakly bonded on steep slopes and in all sheltered gullies above 800m. Where deep accumulations of windslab exist on steep slopes the avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SUN 3/3/02 A mild moist airflow will affect the area during Saturday night and on Sunday with strong Westerly winds. The snowpack will start to thaw as the freezing level rises to near the summits. Wet snow instabilities will exist especially where accumulations of previously formed windslab are present on icy lower layers. The greatest hazard will be on most steep slopes and in gullies: the avalanche hazard in these areas will be Considerable (Category 3) and avalanches are likely. Cornices will become unstable and likely to collapse. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Snow above 500m. ICING: above 600m - but becoming 1130m. COMMENT: Climbing conditions generally good but milder wet weather is forecast. Condition may deteriorate fast and wet snow avalanches are likely on steep ground. SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SAT 2/3/02 The snowpack remains very variable with a mix of hard and soft slab above 800 metres. The freezing level has risen to around 900 metres helping consolidation at this level. Cooler dry snow on exposed slopes was subject to redistribution by strong NW winds. Moderately to weakly bonded areas are still to be found on N through to SE aspects above 800 metres. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SUN 3/3/02 A return to milder conditions will see the freezing level rise further to around 1100 metres. Stability of existing windslab will become increasingly poor and there will be overnight avalanche activity. Snow will only fall on the highest summits and will rapidly build into unstable deposits on E aspects. Elsewhere any remaining deeper deposits will be suspect and avalanches are likely. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Now wet under 800 metres. ICING: Subject to thaw. COMMENT: Freezing level around summit level. CREAG MEAGAIDH AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SAT 2/3/02 North-West winds have left significant accumulations of windslab, predominantly on East to South aspects above 800 metres. Other aspects have been wind scoured and are well bonded. As it has become a little milder with the freezing level around the summits, the snowpack has become moist and settled a little. However in deep deposits where the snow is colder a shear can still be obtained. Considerable (Category 3) avalanche hazard. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SUN 3/3/02 Prolonged snowfall on a gale force Westerly wind will cause the rapid build up of fresh windslab on North through East to South-East aspects above 900 metres. The already large and unstable cornices that overhang many North through East to South-East aspects will continue to grow and be prone to collapse. The snowpack on other aspects will be wind scoured and stable. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). Avalanches are likely. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Main cover above 500 metres. Good ski touring after a short walk. ICING: Good on steep aspects but still buried in the gullies. COMMENT: Some snow disappearing from the rocks today (2.2.02) in the milder air. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------