LOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS THU 21/3/02 A period of light snowfall overnight has been followed by warmer temperatures and a gradual thaw at all levels during Thursday. Wet snow surface instabilities are present on many steep slope aspects. Elsewhere the snowpack is generally well bonded. The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK FRI 22/3/02 Further light snowfall is expected overnight followed by warmer temperatures during Friday. Surface instabilities will be present on steep slope inclinations, particularly those aspects exposed to solar radiation. Elsewhere the snowpack will be generally well bonded and stable. The avalanche hazard will be Moderate (Category 2). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: General cover above 800m. ICING: Thawing at all levels today. COMMENT: Re-freezing overnight and warming up again during Friday. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- CREAG MEAGAIDH AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS THU 21/3/02 Moderate snow showers this morning on a variable light Northerly wind. Shallow soft slab is present on all aspects with sheltered deep hollows of a South to North-West aspect above 900 metres holding deepest isolated deposits. Small loose snow avalanches were observed from steep ground as light rain developed wet snow instabilities this afternoon; debris amounts were only small and light. The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK FRI 22/3/02 Light or occasional snowfall is to continue throughout the forecast period on a moderate East becoming North-East wind. Isolated areas of moderately bonded windslab will affect sheltered gullies and hollows of a South to West aspect above 900 metres. Slab build up will remain shallow and isolated and in most cases easily avoided. The avalanche hazard will remain Moderate (Category 2). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Fresh snow down to 750 metres. ICING: Certain routes holding reasonable ice. COMMENT: Still a lot of unconsolidated snow on easier ground making progress slow on many routes. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS THU 21/3/02 There has been a general cover of new snow right down to valley level but with very little drifting. The freezing level has now risen up to 900 metres and new deposits are thawing rapidly. New deposits that overlie older snow-ice are moderately bonded on steeper ground above 900 metres with the snow-ice remaining generally well bonded. The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK FRI 22/3/02 Cooler conditions will return with light snow showers forecast. The NE winds will not be strong enough to produce significant drifting. On steeper ground above 900 metres deeper new deposits will continue to demonstrate poor stability where they overlie firmer snow-ice. The snow-ice will remain generally well bonded. The avalanche hazard will be Moderate (Category 2). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Patchy beneath 900 metres. Deepest on N to E aspects. ICING: Limited observation conditions today. COMMENT: Ski touring still good on the higher hills. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS THU 21/3/02 New light snow amounts have added to recent accumulations that now give up to 25 centimetres of foot penetration. Winds have also been very light so there is no new slab identified in field observations. The size of loose snow avalanches observed today increased slightly compared to yesterday. These avalanches ran on North and West aspects above 1000 metres. The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK FRI 22/3/02 A similar cycle of weather is forecast for the next 24 hour period. Forecast light winds from the North-East will not be enough to create new slab. The snowpack stability below the surface loose snow layer is very good. On ground above 35 degrees loose snow instability will persist above 900 metres on North and West aspects and any sun exposed slope. The avalanche hazard will be Moderate (Category 2). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: The loose snow instability has been easy to identify and timing for natural activity around midday. Ski or boot triggers will occur at anytime on the right slope. ICING: Mostly rather snow covered. COMMENT: Good ski touring in variable light conditions ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- GLENCOE AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS THU 21/3/02 Heavier than predicted overnight snow above 400m gave a period of avalanche activity in the earlier part of the day. Wet snow debris was noted below North-East slopes at 950m. Temperatures have remained above freezing at all levels today allowing much of the new snow to bed down. The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2) on steep slopes and gullies where wet snow instabilities remain. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK FRI 22/3/02 Colder conditions for the period will refreeze the old snowpack above 700m. Moderate amounts of new snow will fall above 300m mainly during the early hours of the morning. Fresh Easterly winds will form windslab in all sheltered gullies and on slopes with a South-West to Northerly aspect above 850m. Where deep accumulations of windslab form on top of the older refrozen snow bonding will be poor. In these areas avalanches are likely. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3) CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: New snow above 400m. ICING: Thawing all levels on Thursday. Reforming on higher routes on Friday with freezing level at 700m COMMENT: Conditions will improve with colder outlook. Fresh windslab will be unstable on steep slopes -------------------------------------------------------------------------------