NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SUN 9/2/03 Light new snow accumulations have built up mostly on East to South aspects. Snow-ice surfaces have firmed up considerably and the new slab is bonded reasonably well to the old surface in its present light load configuration. On some extreme East aspect terrain there are deep foot penetrations indicating poorer stability. The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK MON 10/2/03 Moderate snow amounts are forecast with rising Southerly winds. Snow re-distribution will occur with most rapid accumulations being on North aspects. Some of these North aspects have minimal cover but where old snowpack underlies the potential for soft slab avalanches will exist. Some East and South aspects above 900 metres will also be at avalanche threshold. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Some skiable surviving patches on plateau will improve. ICING: New ice smears evident. COMMENT: Large avalanche debris observed in Feith Buidhe and from the Lum at Hell's Lum. Run out zones of nearly any avalanche are going to be in very ugly bouldery terrain. LOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SUN 9/2/03 Snow showers and a W/SW wind have formed fresh areas of soft windslab. Accumulations are isolated and generally avoidable. Greatest deposits are on N through E to SE aspects, mainly scarp slopes and the tops of gullies. Elsewhere snowpack has a surface crust and is generally stable. The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). Soft unstable cornices reforming. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK MON 10/2/03 After a dry night, moderate amounts of snow and increasing Southerly winds during Monday will see fresh areas of windslab form. Sheltered NW to N though to E aspects will hold the greatest accumulations, particularly tops of gullies, scarp slopes and the base of crags above 900m. Below 900m the snowpack will be wet. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). Unstable cornices forming. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Fresh snow above 500m on Sunday. Best cover in high N and E facing corries. ICING: Still a bit wet from the thaw, improving. COMMENT: Plenty of routes seeing ascents on Aonach Mor today. Winds becoming gale force later on Monday. GLENCOE AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SUN 9/2/03 The colder conditions during Saturday night and early Sunday morning have consolidated the old wet snowpack. Some light new snow in also present above 700m with the greatest accumulations being in sheltered gullies with a Northerly aspect. Generally the new snow is well bonded on all but the very steepest of slopes. Deep deposits of new snow exist on steeper ground and at the tops of gullies: the avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK MON 10/2/03 It will be dry at first but becoming very wet below 900m. Strong to gale force Southerly winds will bring new snow above 900m during the morning. New deposits are expected to be significant above 900m with the greatest accumulations being mainly on slopes with a North through to East aspect and in areas such as sheltered summit gullies. Windslab will form on Northerly aspects with the strong S winds. Deep layered deposits of windslab will exist. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Snow above 700 metres. ICING: Above 850m. COMMENT: Stormy conditions are forecast with gale force (gusts 50-75 mph) southerly winds. The forecast for Tuesday and Wednesday is more promising. SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SUN 9/2/03 There was dusting of new snow from 900 metres. Older snow which is mainly on E to S aspects above 900 metres had refrozen and is generally well bonded. The avalanche hazard is Low (Category 1). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK MON 10/2/03 Conditions will remain the same until the arrival of gale force winds and moderate snowfall in the afternoon. There will be a rapid build up of accumulations on NW to NE aspects above 900 metres. Cross loading into sheltered gullies such as Black Spout will also occur. Where new accumulations achieve a reasonable depth and build over existing snow-ice they will be unstable. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Patchy cover, mainly on S to E aspects. ICING: Some ice falls are intact but need some improvement. COMMENT: Likely to be a stormy afternoon. CREAG MEAGAIDH AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SUN 9/2/03 After a cold night the snowpack has become generally well bonded on most aspects. However on slopes that have been effected by todays strong sunshine the snowpack is softer. Slight wet snow instabilities can be still found in these softer deposits on East through South to South-West aspects above 800 metres. The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2) on steep above mentioned aspects. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK MON 10/2/03 Winds are forecast to be from the South and increase throughout the day to storm force. This combined with moderate snow will begin to build fresh deposits of unstable windslab on North-West to North-East aspects above 850 metres. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). The snowpack will continue to be depleted at lower levels and remain soft and wet. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Patchy down to 500 metres, main cover above 700 metres. ICING: Evident from a distance but remaining poor in mild temperatures. COMMENT: General climbing conditions improving but still in need of further thaw-freeze cycles. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------