NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS FRI 15/3/02 There have been very strong Easterly winds on the plateau with extremely variable wind direction at various elevations and aspects in the corries. New snow amounts above 900 metres have been transported into deep accumulations on smaller terrain features of any aspect. On larger slopes the main loading is on West and North aspect. The slab shears very easily where buried facets lie on crust. The avalanche hazard is High (Category 4). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SAT 16/3/02 Snow will change to rain through the forecast period. Avalanches will occur due to the weakly bonded snowpack in most places above 900 metres where storm accumulations exist. On larger terrain features of West and North aspect avalanches that start above 1050 metres will have long runout distances. The avalanche hazard will be High (Category 4). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: There are still scoured areas around but heavily loaded slopes may be not too far upslope on the same aspect. ICING: Ice in abundance according to some reports. COMMENT: Al Capone risk management is also true at times in the mountains - "Nobody moves, nobody gets hurt". LOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS FRI 15/3/02 Strong SE winds with light snow showers are forming isolated areas of soft slab. Sheltered hollows and gullies with W, NW and N aspects hold the greatest accumulations, although some sheltered NE aspects are also affected due to cross loading in the strong winds. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). Slopes exposed to the wind are hard frozen and scoured. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SAT 16/3/02 Strong SE winds and light snow overnight will form fresh areas of windslab. Greatest accumulations will be on sheltered slopes and gullies with W, NW, N and NE aspects. As the freezing level rises and snow turns to rain on Saturday, wet snow avalanches are likely, particularly on steep slopes above 1100m. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). Cornices will be prone to collapse. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Good cover at present above 500m. ICING: Freezing level set to rise above the summits on Saturday. COMMENT: Hazard of falling ice and rock as temperatures rise on Saturday. GLENCOE AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS FRI 15/3/02 The very strong Easterly winds have scoured the snowpack at most levels and transported snow into sheltered areas. These conditions and the low temperatures have consolidated most of the unstable deposits on NE through to SW aspects. However accumulations of unstable soft windslab are present on SW to NW aspects and in most sheltered gullies above 800m. These weakly bonded deposits of windslab exist particularly on steep slopes above 800m. Elsewhere the snowpack is generally well bonded and icy in places. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SAT 16/3/02 Snow showers during Friday night will become rain on Saturday morning with strong SE to S winds: the temperature will rise to above the summits. Unstable accumulations of wet slab will exist in all sheltered areas. The greatest deposits will be on W to N aspects above 800m. Gullies and steep sheltered slopes and the tops of gullies with a NW aspect will present the greatest hazard. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3) and wet snow avalanches are likely. Other slopes will also require some caution. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: New snow above 350m. ICING: Above 550m. COMMENT: Rain and a rise in temperature will give unstable conditions. Caution is required on steep slopes. Ridges and buttresses are the safer option. SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS FRI 15/3/02 Gale force SE winds and new snowfall have added new accumulations to a very variable snowpack. New windslab is mainly to be found in sheltered locations on W to N aspects above 700 metres. Elsewhere a mix of hard and soft slab can be found. Generally stability is poor with the avalanche hazard High (Category 4). Cornices are developing in some locations. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SAT 16/3/02 There will be a return to milder conditions. With freezing levels over the summits and the arrival of rain, windslab will become unstable and avalanches will occur. Above 800 metres many aspects have enough depth of snow to provide substantial hazard. Recently formed cornices will be prone to collapse. The avalanche hazard will be High Category 4) CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Good from around 800 metres. ICING: Excellent in many areas. Creagan a Corrie Etchachan has good build up. COMMENT: Freezing level will be over most summits. CREAG MEAGAIDH AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS FRI 15/3/02 There has been a dusting of fresh snow above 850 metres arriving on a strong and variable North-East to East-South-East wind. Any fresh snow has tended to blow down into the glens over the well-bonded and icy underlying snow and collect in hollows on flat ground. However, there are isolated and shallow patches of windslab in the most sheltered of hollows on slopes of a South-West to North-West aspect above 850 metres. The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SAT 16/3/02 Light snow showers will continue overnight on a gale force South-East wind. Localised areas of windslab will continue to build in the most sheltered of hollows on slopes of a West to North aspect above 850 metres. During the day the freezing level will rise above the summits causing these localised areas of windslab to dampen and bed down. Due to rising temperatures and heavy rain there will be an increased risk of cornice collapse. If out of the line of fire of cornices the avalanche hazard will be Moderate (Category 2). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Main cover above 600 metres on North to South-East aspects. ICING: Very good although the Post Face is well banked out. COMMENT: There are large cornices above many North to South-East aspects. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------