NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SAT 4/1/03 A period of heavy snow late on Friday led to substantial additional build-up at all levels, but particularly on the plateau and East to South facing slopes above 1000 metres. This gave way to a fine, calm day with light winds and only some cloud at plateau level. A weak sub-surface slab layer was noted on a South-East facing test site at 1100 metres but fractures did not readily propagate. Test ski-ing in a North-facing gully in Coire an t-Sneachda produced no releases. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SUN 5/1/03 A day of light winds with a few snow showers will lead to little change in the snowpack. However, potential instabilities will remain, particularly on East and South aspects above 1000 metres. In addition, cold snow temperatures will be maintained at the threshold for depth hoar formation. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: General cover at all levels. Ski touring possibilities on plateau much improved. ICING: Still improving. COMMENT: Many N. Corries routes climbed today. LOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SAT 4/1/03 A cold NE airflow over the forecast area has had little effect on the existing snowpack. Isolated shallow deposits of windslab are present on top of old snow patches, mainly at the tops of W aspects. These accumulations are generally localised and easily avoided. On other aspects, a thin dusting of snow and rime exists. The avalanche hazard is Low (Category 1). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SUN 5/1/03 Cold conditions with a light NE/E wind will be the major feature of the next 24hrs. Isolated shallow deposits of windslab will be present, mainly at the tops of W aspects and restricted to where they overlie old snow patches. These accumulations will be localised and easy to avoid. Elsewhere the snow pack will be hard frozen and stable. The avalanche hazard will be Low (Category 1). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Light dusting of snow above 450m. ICING: Freezing at all levels. COMMENT: Still lean conditions. Remaining cold. GLENCOE AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SAT 4/1/03 The snow cover is still very thin and limited. Some deeper areas of snow exist above 900m, mainly in sheltered areas and on the higher Northerly slopes and in deep gullies. However there is not enough snow to present an avalanche hazard. Colder conditions have stabilised the older snow patches and also produced verglas on rocks and paths. The avalanche hazard is Low (Category 1). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SUN 5/1/03 It will remain cold with fresh N to NE winds and no precipitation. The sparse frosty snowpack will remain stable. The greatest accumulations of snow will be in sheltered locations but mainly on slopes with a Northerly aspect above 900m. The avalanche hazard will remain Low (Category 1) with ice on rocks and paths. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Snow above 300m. Deeper areas of snow above 900 metres mainly in sheltered gullies with a Northerly aspect. ICING: Freezing at all levels. COMMENT: Buttresses and ridges offer some reasonable winter climbing conditions. Most gullies are still very thin. SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SAT 4/1/03 There is a mix of hard and soft windslab in sheltered locations on most aspects. Dry light deposits are down to valley level but greatest depth is to be found above 800 metres on S through to NW aspects. In many locations snow cover remains generally thin with older snow-ice very hard. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SUN 5/1/03 It will remain cold with further snow showers but the winds will ease. Windslab found in sheltered locations on many aspects will continue to be weakly bonded. More extensive areas will be found on S through to NW aspects above 800 metres. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). Cover elsewhere will remain thin. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Thin cover from valley level. Deeper drifts becoming more widespread. ICING: Watercourses are starting to freeze. COMMENT: Time consuming trail breaking required. CREAG MEAGAIDH AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SAT 4/1/03 It has remained calm and very cold with no further snowfall. On West facing slopes above 900 metres, isolated patches of soft snow can be found in rocky or grassy hollows but not enough to cause any problems. Generally there is very little cover with even the bigger gullies like Easy and Raeburn's incomplete and rocky. The avalanche hazard is Low (Category 1). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SUN 5/1/03 It will remain calm and very cold with only a trace of fresh snow. Cover will remain thin above 800 metres with isolated pockets of soft snow in hollows on West facing slopes. The bigger gullies will remain incomplete with rocky chockstones. Despite the lack of snow the ground will remain well frozen. The avalanche hazard will be Low (Category 1). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Thin cover above 800 metres. Easy Gully and Raeburn's look about Grade III (mixed)! ICING: Despite some brave souls attempting to climb, there is not enough ice on the named routes. Small playable icefalls can be found though. COMMENT: Another superb day with more to come! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------