NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS TUE 4/2/03 Overnight snow on a North-North-West wind was followed by a day of poor visibility with drifting on continuing strong North- Westerlies. There is deep unstable windslab on many aspects down to low altitude. Tests on a North-East facing site at 950 metres showed very easy clean shears. The avalanche hazard is High (Category 4). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK WED 5/2/03 Some further snow showers on fresh North-North-West winds overnight, will bring a little additional loading to existing weak layers. Instabilities will persist on slopes of most aspects especially on North through East to South facing slopes above 800 metres. Gully heads, scarp slopes and crag aprons will be particularly affected. Unstable slab will also be present in burn gullies and other areas at altitudes as low as 500 metres. Avalanches are likely in all these areas. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Deep cover at all levels. Approaches laborious. ICING: Probably improving, if you can get there. COMMENT: Skis or snow shoes useful. LOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS TUE 4/2/03 Snow showers and a Northerly airflow are continuing to build areas of unstable windslab in sheltered locations. Greatest deposits are on NE through to S aspects. Scarp slopes, gullies and crag aprons are particularly affected. Under test this slab is weakly bonded. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). Avalanche debris noted on E and SE facing scarp slopes and gullies on Aonach Mor. Cornices are soft and unstable. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK WED 5/2/03 A showery NNW airflow will continue overnight, becoming dry for Wednesday. Areas of unstable windslab will persist in sheltered locations. Greatest accumulations will be on NE through to S aspects, particularly scarp slopes, gullies and crag aprons. Avalanches are likely in these locations. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). Unstable cornices will be present. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: New snow at all levels, today (Tuesday). ICING: Remaining cold through-out the period. COMMENT: Unstable approaches and exits to many routes. Significant cornices forming on the above aspects. GLENCOE AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS TUE 4/2/03 Heavy drifting of recent show on to North-East to Southerly slopes and sheltered gullies has formed weakly bonded windslab and delicate cornices in many of these locations. Drifts are deep and extensive with some highly suspect windslab existing on steeper slopes and gully exits. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). Windward slopes have been scoured of much of the recent snow and are icy in places. Cornice debris noted. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK WED 5/2/03 A cold NNW airflow with no significant precipitation will affect the area overnight and through Wednesday. Areas of weakly bonded windslab and deep drifts of recent snow will be present on many North-East to Southerly facing slopes and sheltered gullies. Weakly bonded cornice formations will also exist at the tops of similar slopes. Elsewhere on slopes exposed to the recent high winds much of the snow cover will remain scoured leaving an icy surface in many locations. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3) with avalanches likely in affected areas. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: New snow at all levels. ICING: Ice forming in watercourses and on rocks above 100m. Freezing at sea level overnight and on Wednesday COMMENT: Windslab and cornices will require caution. SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS TUE 4/2/03 After stormy conditions overnight the day has been drier but drifting of deposits has continued throughout. Significant quantities of unstable windslab exist on mainly E to S aspects although most sheltering features hold some deposits. Stability is very poor with avalanche debris noted on a SE aspect with a starting zone at 550 metres. The avalanche hazard is High (Category 4). Newly formed cornices are highly unstable. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK WED 5/2/03 It will be a calmer drier day but colder temperatures will inhibit the consolidation process. Unstable windslab will be found on E to S aspects and in other sheltered locations. Triggering will be possible even with low additional loads and avalanches are likely. Cornices will remain unstable and should be avoided. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Falling to valley level. Deep drifts in sheltered locations. Trail breaking required. ICING: N aspects were being stripped of powder today. Remaining cold through the next forecast period. COMMENT: Careful route choice required. CREAG MEAGAIDH AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS TUE 4/2/03 Strong North-North-West winds overnight brought additional new snow loading to existing weak layers on most slope aspects and altitudes. Easy shears are evident in all recent slab deposits. NE through SE to SW slopes are particularly affected. The avalanche hazard is High (Category 4). Access roads were blocked and tests carried out in the Monadh Liath range. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK WED 5/2/03 Moderating North-North-West winds with no additional snow will not alter the snowpack significantly. The instabilities on most aspects above 500 metres will persist. NE through SE to SW slopes will be particularly affected. Avalanches will occur in these areas. The avalanche hazard will be High (Category 4). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: All levels, with drifts of vast depth. ICING: Must be building, but not accessible today. COMMENT: Remaining cold. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------