NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS
AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SUN 17/3/02
It was a sunny day on the plateau with light Southerly winds and 
temperature up to nearly 2 degrees.  The surface snow on steep 
sun exposed aspects is poor stability but there is no evidence of 
loose snow avalanche activity.  On other aspects the mid-pack is 
still quite cold and has now been through an extended period of 
stabilization.  The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2).  

AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK MON 18/3/02
A period of rain will move through the region.  This will create 
some instability on steep ground with thin cover.  In areas with 
snowpack deeper than 50 centimetres the stability will remain 
fair to good.  The avalanche hazard will be Moderate (Category 
2).


CLIMBING CONDITIONS 
SNOW DISTRIBUTION:  Good ski touring cover on plateau.
ICING: Holding its own in grooves and less steep ground on 
North aspects; weeping on South aspects.
COMMENT:  There is some cooling ahead.


LOCHABER
AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SUN 17/3/02
Light snowfall followed by rain to the summits overnight has 
produced shallow, localised, wet snow deposits. Accumulations 
are generally restricted to steep NW, N and NE aspects above 
1000m. Below 1000m, the snowpack is gradually thawing. The 
avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). Shallow surface 
sluffs noted on steep NE aspects, Aonach Mor.

AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK MON 18/3/02
A mild SE airflow with rain on Monday will see the gradual 
thaw continue. Any wet snow instabilities will be shallow, 
isolated and generally restricted to steep NW, N and NE aspects 
above 1000m. The avalanche hazard will be Moderate (Category 
2). The snowpack will be gradually thawing at all levels.


CLIMBING CONDITIONS 

SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Snowpack gradually thawing at all 
levels.
ICING: Freezing level around the summits during Monday.
COMMENT: Hazard of falling ice and rock in the thaw.



GLENCOE
AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SUN 17/3/02
Overnight rain and mild conditions have softened and moistened 
the snowpack. Stability is generally good in most locations but 
on the steepest slopes and gullies wet snow instabilities remain. 
The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). 

AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK MON 18/3/02
Mild conditions with moderate rain at all levels will continue 
overnight and through Monday. Wet snow instabilities will 
remain on the steepest slopes mainly in sheltered gullies and on 
North-West through to Easterly aspects. In other locations the
snowpack will be soft moist and will be generally stable. The
avalanche hazard will be Moderate (Category 2). Cornices will
remain prone to collapse with freezing levels above the summits
all day.

CLIMBING CONDITIONS 
SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Snow above 400m.
ICING: Freezing level above summits
COMMENT: Remaining mild for Monday 


SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS
AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SUN 17/3/02
Another mild day continues the thaw conditions. Above 900 
metres N to E aspects are holding the most snow with some 
deeper areas that have not yet completely thawed. Elsewhere 
aspects exposed to the sun had surface instabilities on steeper 
slopes but layers within the snowpack are moderately bonded. 
The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). Cornices are 
prone to collapse.
  
AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK MON 18/3/02
The mild conditions will continue with the addition of some 
rain. The thawing snowpack will remain moderately bonded on 
all aspects. The greatest hazard will be found above 900 metres 
on steeper slopes on N to E aspects. Cornice collapse will also 
continue to be a hazard. The avalanche hazard will be Moderate 
(Category 2). 


CLIMBING CONDITIONS 
SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Best above 900 metres. Becoming 
patchy in some locations.
ICING: All subject to thaw.
COMMENT: Freezing level due to be around 1300 metres.
 


CREAG MEAGAIDH
AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SUN 17/3/02
It has remained very mild with no further snowfall. The 
snowpack is wet and soft at the surface but relatively well 
bonded and stable on all aspects. Of more concern than the 
stability of snow slopes is the hazard of cornice collapse with
the freezing level well above the summits (+3.3 c at 900 metres).
Large sections of ice are also collapsing particularly from the
more exposed areas such as Pinnacle Buttress. The avalanche
hazard is Moderate (Category 2).
 
AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK MON 18/3/02
It will remain mild with the freezing level well above the 
summits. Snow slopes will remain wet and soft at the surface 
but relatively well bonded and stable on all aspects. Due to the 
continuing mild conditions and rain the hazard of cornice
collapse will increase. There are large cornices above Bellevue
Buttress, Staghorn, Diadem and Cinderella. Overall the avalanche
hazard will remain Moderate (Category 2) but be aware that
cornice collapse runouts may be long and are best avoided.


CLIMBING CONDITIONS 

SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Main cover above 600 metres on 
North to South-East aspects.

ICING: Still fairly good in the gullies. Unfortunately in rapid 
decline on the more open faces. Collapsing ice will remain a 
hazard.

COMMENT: Even the midges were out today (17.03.02).
Spring has sprung!




-------------------------------------------------------------------------------