NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS TUE 19/3/02 Overnight snow on light Northerly winds gave a general fresh snow cover of 8 to 9 centimetres above 700 metres. With little or no drifting no new slab has been created and temperatures at plateau level have permitted some stabilisation. There is a thin melt-freeze crust below the surface layer and sluffing along with loose snow avalanche activity were noted from North-West and North aspects above 1000 metres. The deeper snowpack is not frozen and remaining cornices are weak. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK WED 20/3/02 Additional light snow showers on light North-East and East winds will bring some further loading to new accumulations. Summit temperatures below freezing will maintain some surface instabilities on steep slopes of any aspect above 900 metres, particularly on scarp slopes and gully tops. Remaining cornices will be weak. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: West aspects still thin. ICING: Colder conditions are helping the comeback. COMMENT: Good touring conditions Tuesday p.m. LOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS TUE 19/3/02 Light and variable winds with light snow showers have formed shallow areas of soft snow. Hollows and gullies of varying aspects hold the greatest amount, although accumulations are not extensive or of a significant depth. The existing wet snowpack is generally stable with a surface crust. The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK WED 20/3/02 Snow showers and moderate E winds during the forecast period will see areas of soft slab present on many sheltered aspects. Sheltered gullies and hollows with NW, W and SW aspects will hold the greatest amounts. Where significant accumulations develop on steeper snow- ice deposits the avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Fresh snow above 600m today 19/2/02 ICING: Remaining cold for Tuesday. COMMENT: Soft snow on a firm base, ideal off-piste/ski touring. GLENCOE AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS TUE 19/3/02 Light snow overnight is lying above 650m giving a general cover of 5 centimetres: no significant drifting was observed. The existing snowpack was initially firmer above 700m but is becoming softer in most locations with rising freezing levels during to day. Stability was found to be good on all but the steepest slopes and gullies where shallow soft snow instabilities remain. The avalanche hazard is Low (Category 1). Cornices remain prone to collapse. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK WED 20/3/02 Mild conditions with light rain or sleet on the highest tops during Wednesday will affect the area. The snowpack will become soft and moist but will be stable on all but the steepest slopes where shallow wet snow instabilities will exist. The avalanche hazard will be Low (Category 1). Cornices will remain prone to collapse and should be carefully considered when route planning. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Snow above 500m. ICING: Highest routes only COMMENT: Mild conditions overnight and Wednesday with freezing levels at 1100 metres. Highest routes offer best hope for climbing. SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS TUE 19/3/02 With a return to colder temperatures the surface layers of the snowpack have refrozen. There is a now a firm crust with softer wet snow beneath. Light snow showers have led to isolated pockets of fresh snow. These are limited in depth and have not affected the avalanche hazard which is Low (Category 1). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK WED 20/3/02 It will remain cold with light snow showers forecast for tomorrow. The snowpack will be generally well bonded. There will be little drifting in the light E winds but deeper deposits are more likely on SW to NW aspects. Where deeper deposits form over snow-ice on steeper ground above 900 metres the avalanche hazard will be Moderate (Category 2). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Patchy below 900 metres. Deepest on N and E aspects. ICING: Has improved in the colder conditions. COMMENT: Another cold and settled day is expected on Wednesday. CREAG MEAGAIDH AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS TUE 19/3/02 The snowpack is generally well bonded and stable on all aspects. Snow showers on a light North-East wind have deposited fresh shallow snow on all aspects. Some light drifting has occurred and isolated moderately bonded shallow windslab deposits have formed on lee slopes below cornices and the most sheltered of hollows of a South to West aspect above 900 metres. The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK WED 20/3/02 It will be dry overnight with snow showers through the day on a light Easterly wind. Isolated and shallow deposits of fresh moderately bonded windslab will persist on South to North-West aspects above 900 metres. These areas of windslab will remain localised and easily avoidable. The avalanche hazard will be Moderate (Category 2). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Fresh snow down to 650 metres. ICING: Still fairly good in main gullies, a bit rotten below 950 metres. COMMENT: Remaining cold with light winds. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------