NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SAT 1/2/03 Moderate Westerly winds with light snow overnight have not significantly altered the snow distribution. Areas of soft and hard slab can be found between North and East aspects above 900 metres. Instabilities were noted on an Easterly aspect at 1100 metres where hard slab sheared easily on a softer layer. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SUN 2/2/03 Continuing snow showers on a strong Westerly wind overnight, will distribute snow on Easterly aspects. Some slab still exists on North facing slopes. Aspects facing between North-West through to South-East above 900 metres will show instabilities. Avalanches are likely in these areas. Isolated pockets of slab on various aspects will be found above 600 metres. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Hill is very white but a lot of the cover is very thin. ICING: Buttresses plastered in hoar but gullies still very thin. COMMENT: Plenty of routes being done in Northern Corries. LOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SAT 1/2/03 Strong W to NW winds and snow showers have formed areas of unstable windslab. Main accumulations are at the tops of NE, E, SE, and S facing slopes and gullies. Other sheltered locations are also affected. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). Avalanche activity observed on E and NE facing scarp slopes on Aonach Mor. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SUN 2/2/03 Strong Westerly winds will continue overnight and during Sunday accompanied by snow showers above 400m. Areas of unstable windslab will continue to form in sheltered locations. Largest accumulations will be on NE, E and SE facing gullies, scarp slopes and crag aprons. Avalanches will occur in these locations. The avalanche hazard will be High (Category 4). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Fresh snow above 500m. ICING: Remaining cold through out the period. COMMENT: Unstable approaches and exits to many routes. GLENCOE AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SAT 1/2/03 Strong Westerly winds and new snow today have formed unstable windslab on scarp slopes with a North to South-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 SUN 2/2/03 Stormy conditions with frequent snow showers will persist through the forecast period. With wind coming from the West, significant accumulations of unstable windslab will form in sheltered areas such as gullies and on slopes with a North-East to South-East aspect. Weakly bonded cornices will also continue to form in similar locations. On Northerly aspects areas of older windslab may well remain. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). Avalanches are likely on steeper slopes. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Snow above 500 metres. ICING: Ice forming in watercourses and on rocks above 500 metres. Freezing level 400 metres on Sunday. COMMENT: Stormy outlook for Sunday. SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SAT 1/2/03 There was very little new snow and some improvement in stability in existing snow. Localised windslab is to be found in sheltered locations on NE to SW aspects above 800 metres. On steeper slopes windslab was moderately to weakly bonded. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SUN 2/2/03 Snow showers falling on strong W winds will add new accumulations into sheltered locations on NE to SE aspects. New deposits will form over existing moderately to weakly bonded windslab which can be found on NE through to SW aspects above 800 metres, where avalanches are likely. Scarp slopes and gully exits will require care. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Mainly in the way on walk-ins ICING: Plenty around but not always in useful places. COMMENT: Lochnagar routes remain very lean. CREAG MEAGAIDH AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SAT 1/2/03 Overnight thaw-freeze cycle has left recent deep slab deposits on South aspects moderately well bonded. However snow on a strong Westerly wind has begun to build fresh weakly bonded windslab on North-East through East to South-East aspects above 800 metres. Observers easily triggered a slab avalanche on a North-East aspect. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). Fresh unstable cornices are forming above steep above-mentioned aspects. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SUN 2/2/03 Snow is to continue throughout the forecast period on storm force Westerly winds. Weakly bonded windslab will continue to build on North-East through East to South-East aspects above 700 metres and avalanches will occur in these areas. Fresh unstable cornices will continue to grow and become increasingly unstable on the above mentioned aspects. The avalanche hazard will be High (Category 4). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Fresh snow at all levels, thawing slightly below 600 metres. Still hard going without skis. ICING: Thaw-freeze cycle improving conditions, but still quite poor with a lot of fresh snow around. COMMENT: Might get some climbing done soon after the weather settles down. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------