NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SUN 5/1/03 Snow showers of graupel and fine needle snow forms have fallen during the day in light Easterly winds. The deepest snow accumulations are on South aspect above 950 metres. The tops of many North aspect slopes have been scoured but on North aspect at mid-slope there is up to 50 centimetres of foot penetration. Shear tests give somewhat less pronounced results. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK MON 6/1/03 A few snow showers in light Easterly winds are forecast. There will still be large areas of unconsolidated snow available for wind transport. The slow settlement rate and overall strengthening of the new snow will continue in the relatively calm, cool conditions. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Up to 50 centimetres of foot penetration on some slopes; nearly skiable without sparks on plateau. ICING: Some improvement noted. COMMENT: Heavy foot travel off established tracks. LOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SUN 5/1/03 The continuing cold and settled weather 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 MON 6/1/03 Cold conditions with a light Easterly wind will continue over the next 24 hours. 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: Almost 80 climbers using the 8am gondola at Nevis Range this morning (Sunday) so there must be some routes in condition! Remaining cold. GLENCOE AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SUN 5/1/03 The snow cover is still very thin and limited. Some deeper areas of snow exist above 900m these are mainly in sheltered areas and on the higher Northerly slopes and in deep gullies. However there is not enough snow to create 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 MON 6/1/03 It will remain cold with light E to SE 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 SUN 5/1/03 Conditions have remained cold with very light snow showers today. Cover generally remains superficial but most aspects have areas of drifting. Greater depth is to be found on S through to NW aspects above 800 metres. Deeper deposits on steeper slopes remain weakly bonded. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK MON 6/1/03 Consolidation will continue to take place slowly due to the cold conditions. Weakly bonded windslab will persist in steeper sheltered locations on many aspects. 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 generally superficial. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Thin cover from valley level. Deeper drifts on S through to NW aspects. ICING: Watercourses are starting to freeze. COMMENT: Trail breaking still required in remoter locations. CREAG MEAGAIDH AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SUN 5/1/03 It has remained cold with occasional light snow showers above 700 metres on a very light Easterly wind. Snow cover in the region remains fairly sparse with only a light cover above 700 metres. Pockets of soft snow can be found on all aspects in grassy or rocky hollows but nowhere is there enough depth to cause any problems. The avalanche hazard is Low (Category 1). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK MON 6/1/03 It will remain cold with no further snowfall and light winds. This will result in little change to the current sparse snow conditions. Light cover will persist above 700 metres, with pockets of soft snow lying in hollows on all aspects. Due to the insignificant depth of snow cover the avalanche hazard will remain Low (Category 1). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Light cover above 700 metres. Even the bigger gullies like Easy and Raeburn's are incomplete and rocky. ICING: It's getting better with many climbs holding thin ice in the backs of gullies. Not quite enough yet though on established routes. Fun icefalls can be found. COMMENT: More good weather? Is this January? -------------------------------------------------------------------------------