NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SUN 3/3/02 There has been a slow steady rise in temperature with light rain over the summit elevation. This has moistened the surface layer and due to the gradual increase in temperature there has been a slight improvement in stability. Shear layers are still identifiable in field tests, particularly on East and South aspects above 900 metres. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK MON 4/3/02 Rain will further load and warm the snowpack. The continued Westerly flow will contribue to rapid rate of attrition of snow below 850 metres. Thin snow cover on steep ground will have poor stability. Mainly on East and South aspect there will be areas above 900 metres with slab instability due to persistent weakness. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Foot penetration up to 30 centimetres in moist snow, some dry layers still exist in deeper snowpack ICING: Will improve even more with cooling. COMMENT: Surface instability shown by pinwheeling and snowballing on steep ground. LOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SUN 3/3/02 Thaw conditions with rain to the summits has left the snowpack wet at all levels. Wet snow instabilities are present, particularly on steep slopes and gullies with NE through to SE aspects. Other aspects are also affected due to the varied nature of existing hard slab deposits. Snow stability is decreasing as the day progresses. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). Cornices are unstable and prone to collapse. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK MON 4/3/02 The current thaw conditions will continue during the forecast period. As rainfall continues overnight a period of high instability will occur. Wet snow avalanches will occur on many steep aspects. As Monday progresses wet snow instabilities will still be present, mainly on steep NE through to SE aspects, but will see the snowpack gradually consolidate. The avalanche hazard will be High (Category 4). Cornices prone to collapse. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Rapidly receding at lower levels. ICING: Thawing at levels COMMENT: Some significant unstable wet cornices present. Remaining wet and windy for Monday. GLENCOE AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SUN 3/3/02 Mild conditions with rain at all levels have saturated and reduced the snow cover. Wet snow instabilities exist within the snowpack on the steepest North to East facing slopes and sheltered gullies. Weak sagging cornices are also present above many of these locations. In these areas the avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3): elsewhere the snowpack is soft moist and is becoming generally stable. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK MON 4/3/02 Mild conditions with moderate rain at all levels overnight and through Monday will maintain the snowpack in a soft and moist condition. Wet snow instabilities will remain on the steepest slopes and gullies. Cornices will be prone to collapse. The avalanche hazard will be Moderate (Category 2) CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Snow mainly above 700m. ICING: Thawing ice only at highest levels. COMMENT: Poor climbing conditions at present due to thaw affecting the area. SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SUN 3/3/02 There was some light rain at all levels with the freezing level above most of the summits. The snowpack was gradually warmed leaving surface layers moist and some improvement in stability in some locations. Debris was noted on an E aspect and cornices are suspect. On NE through S aspects deeper areas of the snowpack have retained moderately to weakly bonded layers. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK MON 4/3/02 Milder conditions will continue. With the addition of moderate rainfall, snow will become wet and stability will be suspect particularly on steeper slopes on NE through to S aspects above 900 metres. Cornices will be prone to collapse and may be a threat to slopes below. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3) and avalanches are likely. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Wet at all levels. Overnight loss not to great. ICING: Subject to thaw. COMMENT: Freezing level around summit level. CREAG MEAGAIDH AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SUN 3/3/02 A mild, Westerly airflow has covered the region. The freezing level is well above the summits and precipitation is falling as rain. The snowpack is in slow retreat leaving soft, wet slab, predominantly on North through East to South-East aspects above 800 metres. Although high loading can still cause a shear on slopes, the greatest hazard comes from cornice collapse. North through East to South-East aspects are threatened by precarious and large cornices. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK MON 4/3/02 There will be little change to the current snow conditions with the mild Westerly airstream maintaining a slow thaw at all levels. North through East to South-East aspects above 800 metres will retain the deepest deposits of soft, wet slab. Although these soft, wet slab deposits will slowly bed down the greatest hazard will remain from cornice collapse. Large, precarious cornices will continue to threaten North through East to South-East aspects. The avalanche hazard will remain Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Main cover above 600 metres. Snowpack in slow retreat. ICING: +3.6 C at 1000 metres today (3.3.02) so melting at all levels. COMMENT: The thaw is helping to get rid of some of the excess snow from the cliffs. If it freezes again the climbing conditions should improve. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------