NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS WED 13/3/02 Overnight winds were mainly North-Westerly to Northerly with very little new snow. Winds eased by morning, but on South- East to South aspects above 1000 metres there are deep deposits of recent slab above a snow-ice base. Surface slab sheared easily in tests on a South-East facing site at 1100 metres. There are substantial areas of wind-scouring on plateau areas and West to North aspects above 900 metres. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK THU 14/3/02 A calm and dry night is in prospect, with winds rising a little from the South-East during the day. It will remain cold, but the light winds should not produce any significant wind transport of snow during the main part of the day. Hazard areas will be on steep, convex slopes of East and South aspects above 950 metres. Pockets of instability will remain on North-West to North-East aspects, but as winds rise later in the period, there may be some additional accumulation on these slopes. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Poor only on W aspects. ICING: Maintaining a comeback. COMMENT: A gradual stabilisation continues. LOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS WED 13/3/02 Areas of moderately well bonded hard windslab are present on many N, NE, E and SE aspects. Snow exposed to solar radiation has a softer surface layer. The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK THU 14/3/02 The settled conditions are expected to last throughout Thursday with no new snow expected. Areas of moderately well bonded hard slab will be present on many N, NE, E and SE aspects. Surface softening will occur on slopes exposed to the sun. The avalanche hazard will be Moderate (Category 2). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Snow level around 400m. ICING: Remaining cold through out the period. COMMENT: Good weather continuing! GLENCOE AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS WED 13/3/02 The lower temperatures and light SE winds have lightly scoured the snowpack at most levels. These conditions have consolidated most of the unstable deposits of layered windslab. Some isolated accumulations of windslab are still present on SW through to NW aspects and in sheltered gullies above 850m. These moderate to weakly bonded accumulations of windslab exist particularly on steep slopes above 850m. Elsewhere the snowpack is generally well bonded and icy in places. The avalache hazard is Modserate 9Category 2). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK THU 14/3/02 It will be a mainly dry cold period with SE winds. The snowpack will consolidate further during Thursday. It will be generally well bonded. On North-Westerly aspects above 850m isolated areas of moderately bonded windslab will exist. These will be mainly in gullies and on steep slopes and around the top of gullies. Other sheltered aspects will also require some caution. The avalanche hazard will be Moderate (Category 2). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: New snow above 350m. ICING: Above 550m. COMMENT: Climbing conditions improving. Caution is required on steep slopes on the approach to climbs. Ridges and buttresses are the safer option. SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS WED 13/3/02 There has been a significant difference in the rates of consolidation with sheltered, shady locations on N to E aspects holding moderately to weakly bonded deposits. Sun warmed open slopes are settling at a much faster rate and are moderately well bonded. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK THU 14/3/02 Isolated areas of moderately to weakly bonded snow will persist in shady, sheltered locations. These will generally be found on steeper N to E aspects above 900 metres. The majority of the snowpack will be well bonded especially where sun warming has occurred. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Generally best above 800 metres with deeper cover on N to E aspects. ICING: Good ice present but some clearing still required. COMMENT: Good conditions for all mountain users today. CREAG MEAGAIDH AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS WED 13/3/02 High pressure has prevailed over the region with fine settled weather. Winds are North-Westerly and very light so no further drifting has occurred. Windslab still affects East to South aspects above 800 metres with a shear still being easily obtained in deeper deposits that have avoided the strong sun. Other aspects have settled due to a combination of wind scour, sun and freezing overnight temperatures. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3) in these isolated areas. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK THU 14/3/02 It will remain fairly settled. Windslab will persist on East to South aspects above 800 metres, but after a cold night it will have consolidated further. Also a fresh South-East wind will begin to transport snow onto lee slopes of a West to North aspect causing shallow areas of fresh windslab to form in the most sheltered of hollows. Large cornices will remain above many North to South-East aspects. The avalanche hazard will be Moderate (Category 2). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Main cover above 500 metres. Good skiing although it's melted a bit at lower levels. ICING: Good although the strong sun will have affected some of the more exposed ice. COMMENT: A very Alpine feel to the hills with sun and snow. Shades and suncream recommended. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------