NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SAT 9/3/02 It was a fine day on the hill with cooler temperatures, lighter Westerly winds and up to one metre of new snow on Easterly aspects above 950 metres. The new slab sheared easily in field tests and now provides a cold, cohesive layer on the older moist snow below. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SUN 10/3/02 There will be a period of heavy snow tomorrow, a few hours each side of mid-day. This will come on variable direction winds initially from the South-East and later the South-West. The recent unstable slab will still be on East aspect, in addition new slab will form on North-West to North-East aspects all above 900 metres. Avalanches will occur on these aspects and elevations, and triggering is probable even with low additional loads. The avalanche hazard will be High (Category 4). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Snow arriving; distribution uneven as usual. ICING: Good recovery. COMMENT: There's a famous mountain quote relevant to avalanche terrain choice - "Getting to the top is optional, getting down is mandatory". LOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SAT 9/3/02 Snow showers and strong SW winds overnight and during Saturday have produced large areas of soft unstable windslab. Greatest accumulations are at the tops of N, NE, E and SE facing slopes and gullies above 900m. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). Avalanche activity noted on E and SE aspects between 1000m and 1200m on Aonach Mor. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SUN 10/3/02 Snow showers are expected overnight before a band of heavy snow and strong SE winds crosses the area during Sunday. Further windslab development will occur during the period, mainly on W, NW and N aspects. Existing windslab will remain on NE and some sheltered E aspects. Avalanches will occur in these locations. The avalanche hazard will be High (Category 4). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Main snow level around 600m. Snowing at sea level during Saturday. ICING: Remaining cold through out the period. COMMENT: Brief spell of windy weather crossing the area on Sunday morning. GLENCOE AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SAT 9/3/02 Colder conditions have refrozen much of the old wet snowpack giving some favourable climbing and walking conditions. With poor adhesion to this icy surface new snow has been scoured and redistributed by South-Westerly winds forming potentially unstable windslab mainly around the tops of sheltered gullies and on higher slopes with a North to East aspect. In these locations the avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3) AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SUN 10/3/02 It will remain cold overnight and for much of Sunday with a band of heavy snowfall in the morning. Variable Southerly winds will form windslab in all sheltered gullies and on slopes with a West through North to Easterly aspect. Accumulations of windslab will be weakly bonded to the underlying older snow-ice particularly as a layer of hail exists on top of Saturday's accumulations. Avalanches will occur and cornices will be prone to collapse. Avalanche hazard High (Category 4) CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Main cover above 800m in corries with light cover of new snow at most levels ICING: Re-forming with colder temperatures on Saturday COMMENT: Good conditions where old snow exists. Windslab accumulations will be very weakly bonded. SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SAT 9/3/02 Colder temperatures have refrozen the surface layers of the snowpack. Snow showers on NW winds have formed localised deposits of weakly bonded windslab in very sheltered locations on NE to SE aspects. Where deeper deposits have accumulated over firmer snow-ice on steeper ground the avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SUN 10/3/02 Heavy snow and drifting will form new accumulations on N to E aspects from valley level. Above 900 metres where accumulations form over the existing snow deposits will be weakly bonded and avalanches will occur. The avalanche hazard will be High (Category 4). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Patchy to 1000 metres. ICING: Improved in colder temperatures COMMENT: Blizzard conditions on Sunday morning. CREAG MEAGAIDH AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SAT 9/3/02 There have been heavy snow showers on a strong West-North-West wind. Weak unstable deposits of fresh windslab are widespread with deepest deposits forming on lee slopes below cornices, sheltered gullies and hollows. North through East to South aspects above 800 metres are affected. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3); loose snow avalanches were observed from South- East and East aspects. Triggering is possible with low additional loads. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SUN 10/3/02 There will be heavy snow on a gale force South-East becoming South-West wind. Deep weakly bonded windslab will be present on North- West through East to South aspects above 800 metres. Temperatures are to remain below freezing and weak sub- surface layers will persist. The avalanche hazard will be High (Category 4) and avalanches will occur. Triggering is probable with low additional loads. Large cornices will continue to build on North to Easterly aspects. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Fresh snow at all levels. ICING: Good but buried in deep snow. COMMENT: Most route exits hold deep weak windslab or cornices the size of express trains!! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------