NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS THU 7/3/02 Temperatures have cooled, with minus 3 degrees recorded at midday near Cairn Gorm summit. Strong Westerly winds continue. On Easterly aspects above 850 metres there have been significant accumulations of new snow. On an East aspect this soft slab was triggered during field tests on a convex roll at 1050 metres. Similar terrain needs only low additional load to fail across the slope. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK FRI 8/3/02 Another cycle of cooling, then warming to above freezing, followed by cooling on Friday afternoon is forecast. This includes snow and rain with strong South-Westerly winds turning Westerly later. Avalanches will occur with the onset of rain on East and North-East aspect above 900 metres. Due to storm snow amounts the snowpack is weakly bonded on these aspects mentioned. Cornices will become very weak. The avalanche hazard will be High (Category 4). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Various types of snow and ice cover the plateau. ICING: Generally speaking, good for this winter. COMMENT: If you are unsure about the snow stability, be very conservative about the route finding. LOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS THU 7/3/02 Colder conditions have consolidated any wet snow instabilities. Snow showers and a strong W airflow overnight have formed isolated shallow deposits of soft slab in sheltered locations. Accumulations are present on crag aprons, gullies and hollows with a NE through to SE aspect above 900m. Due to the isolated distribution, these accumulations are generally avoidable. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK FRI 8/3/02 Snow and strong SW winds overnight will give way to rain later with freezing levels rising above the summits. Areas of unstable snow will form on sheltered N through to E to SE aspects above 800m. Later overnight and early on Friday there will be a period of wet snow instability with avalanches likely. As temperatures fall during Friday the wet snowpack will start to consolidate. Fresh accumulations will start to reform on the above aspects later on Friday. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). Cornices will be prone to collapse. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Fresh snow above 700m. ICING: Improving above 900m today (Thursday). COMMENT: Freeze- thaw conditions over the next 24hrs. GLENCOE AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS THU 7/3/02 New snow overnight and earlier today is lying above 850m. The strong Westerly airflow affecting the area has scoured all exposed slopes. Potentially unstable windslab has formed in areas mainly around the tops of sheltered gullies and on the higher slopes with North-East to South-East aspect. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3) where deeper accumulations of windslab and large cornices exist. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK FRI 8/3/02 Heavy snow and strong South-West winds overnight will initially form deep windslab in all sheltered gullies and on slopes with a North to East aspect above 800m. As milder conditions affect the area heavy rain at all levels will bring a period of high instability as recent deposits of windslab become saturated. Avalanches are likely and cornices will collapse during transition to thaw period. Avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). Stability should improve later with a return to colder conditions and snow showers. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Mainly above 800m in corries. ICING: Freezing level above summits on Friday. COMMENT: Climbing conditions will deteriorate with thaw. SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS THU 7/3/02 New deposits are to be found in very sheltered locations on N to E aspects. Where they have developed over existing snow-ice stability is poor. These areas are localised and generally avoidable with greatest hazard on scarp slopes. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). The snowpack is patchy up to 900 metres but above this cover remains good. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK FRI 8/3/02 There will be another mixed weather cycle. Overnight snow showers will turn to rain triggering recent deposits on steeper slopes. The freezing level will be above the summits eventually dropping to around 1000m later in the day. Snowpack stability will generally be moderate but on steeper slopes on N to E aspects above 900 metres some weakly bonded areas will persist. The avalanche hazard will be (Considerable 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Mainly refrozen, still crusty in some locations. Patchy under 900 metres. ICING: Once again will be subject to thaw. Although limited, reasonable quality higher up. COMMENT: Freezing level around 1000m later on Friday. CREAG MEAGAIDH AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS THU 7/3/02 Overnight snow combined with significant drifting today on gale force North-Westerly winds. Deep deposits of weakly bonded windslab have formed on North through East to South- East aspects above 850 metres. Gully exits, lee slopes below cornices and steep sheltered slopes hold deepest deposits. Sub- surface weak layers are present and triggering is possible with low additional loads. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category3) AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK FRI 8/3/02 As snow turns to rain and freezing levels rise above the summits overnight on a gale force South-West wind a period of high instability will begin. Deep weakly bonded windslab deposits on North through East to South-East aspects above 850 metres will become increasingly unstable as wet snow instabilities develop. The avalanche hazard will be High (Category 4) and avalanches will occur. Cornices will also be prone to collapse and debris run outs may be long. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Main cover above 850 metres. ICING: Remaining good but exits from most routes are horrendous. COMMENT: Large unstable cornices have again built on North and East aspects. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------