NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS FRI 31/1/03 Westerly winds have contributed to wider distribution of snow cover and more areas at avalanche threshold. For the third time this winter the repetitive weakness syndrome has returned. The cold snowpack is preserving two very soft layers with stiff slab between which give clean shears, particularly on East and South aspects above 1000 metres. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SAT 1/2/03 Further snow showers are forecast with continuing cold temperatures. Given the previously very sparse snow cover the areas of main consideration will be the highly variable distribution of the new slab sandwich. For example some aprons of North aspect will be loaded, some bare. The same applies to scarp slopes. On East and South aspect above 1000 metres the same variable distribution will be evident. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Plateau still mainly bare. ICING: Random patches exist. COMMENT: Lower slope conditions are not necessarily indicative of conditions on the same slope higher up. LOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS FRI 31/1/03 Moderate amounts of snow and an increasing SW airflow have started to form fresh areas of soft windslab on sheltered NE to E through to SE aspects. The tops of gullies, hollows and scarp slopes hold the greatest accumulations. Deposits are localised and generally avoidable. Where significant deposits are present the snowpack is weakly bonded. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). Cornices forming on the above aspects. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SAT 1/2/03 A westerly airflow will effect the forecast area over the next 24hrs. After a calm night, winds will increase on Saturday with moderate amounts of snow. Areas of unstable windslab will form on sheltered NE to E to SE aspects, notably scarp slopes, crag aprons and the tops of gullies, where avalanches are likely. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). Unstable soft cornices will be present. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Fresh snow at all levels ICING: Still looking thin on the Ben today, improving slowly COMMENT: Increasing wind and snow for Saturday. GLENCOE AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS FRI 31/1/03 Strengthening South-Westerly winds and new snow today have formed unstable windslab on scarp slopes with a North to East aspect and also around the tops of sheltered summit gullies. Fresh weakly bonded cornices are starting to form in many of these locations. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SAT 1/2/03 Gale force Westerly winds and new snow on Saturday will continue to load areas of weakly bonded windslab in sheltered gullies and on slopes with a North-East to South-East aspect. Wind transportation of existing older deposits of snow from Southerly slopes is likely to be a significant factor in the formation of new windslab. Greatest accumulations will form around the tops of summit gullies and on sheltered scarp slopes with fresh cornices starting to form in similar locations. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). Avalanches are likely on steeper slopes. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: New snow above 400m on Friday. ICING: Re-forming above 200m in watercourses and on rocks. Less cold overnight, getting colder on Saturday. COMMENT: Conditions are continuing to improve but are still very thin. Higher ridges and buttresses offer best scope for climbing. Windy! SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS FRI 31/1/03 There are significant deposits in very sheltered locations on many aspects from valley level. Extensive areas are to be found on SE to SW aspects above 800 metres. Deposits are deep and unstable with stability tests revealing multiple easy shears. Areas exposed to the recent strong winds hold very little snow. New cornices are unstable. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SAT 1/2/03 Overnight snowfall will be minimal but there will be snow showers on W winds during the day. New accumulations will develop on NE to E aspects above 800 metres during the day. Existing unstable deposits will also be found on SE to SW aspects. Gully exits and scarp slopes will require care. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3) with avalanches likely. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Deeper patches exist on SE to SW aspects. Ski touring limited and poor. ICING: Some has formed but not sure about quality. COMMENT: Blizzards at times during day. CREAG MEAGAIDH AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS FRI 31/1/03 Light snow showers have continued and it has become somewhat calmer with the wind now having swung round to the South-West. The recent accumulations of deep windslab have remained on East through South to South-West aspects above 600 metres. Although there are some signs of stabilisation deep within the windslab, at the surface soft slab lies on hard slab and shears fairly easily in field tests. Considerable (Category 3) avalanche hazard. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SAT 01/02/03 Snow showers will continue on a strengthening Westerly wind. Existing deep deposits of soft slab will be driven onto lee slopes of a North-East through South-East to South aspects above 600 metres. Sheltered gullies and hollows on these aspects will be most affected with fresh cornices beginning to form above steep North-East and East facing slopes. The avalanche hazard will remain Considerable (Category 3). Avalanches are likely. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Fresh snow at all levels. Difficult to get anywhere, even on skis, with drifts over 3 metres deep in places. ICING: Improving but still poor. Theres too much snow about. It's all yours if you can get to it! COMMENT: There are large cornices above steep South-East to South aspects. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------