NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS MON 3/3/03 It was a mainly bright day with a little drizzle and some drifting above 900 metres on fresh mainly West to North-West winds. Summit temperatures remained below zero. Where tested on a NNE facing site at 950 metres, the new slab gave very clean easy shears above the old snow-ice layer. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK TUE 4/3/03 After a trace of snow overnight, strong South-West winds will bring rain, with freezing levels well above the summits. This will create a wet snowpack and de-stabilise new surface slab layers. Avalanches will occur on all slopes of most aspects, but particularly on North-West through to East-facing slopes above 950 metres. Any cornices will be subject to collapse. The avalanche hazard will be High (Category 4). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Deep drifts above 700m. Travel laborious. ICING: Will deteriorate rapidly in the thaw. COMMENT: Yet another rapid freeze-thaw cycle. LOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS MON 3/3/03 Localised areas of unstable surface slab are present on steep N, NE and E aspects above 1100m. Areas affected are scarp slopes, gullies and crag aprons. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). Elsewhere the snowpack is generally stable. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK TUE 4/3/03 Light snow overnight will be replaced by rain at all levels during Tuesday. The existing areas of surface slab will remain unstable. Wet snow avalanches are likely on steep N, NE and E facing scarp slopes, gullies and crag aprons above 1100m. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). Elsewhere the snowpack will be gradually thawing and generally stable. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Main accumulations remain in N and E facing corries above 900m. ICING: Freezing level rising above the summits on Tuesday will bring a brief period of instability. COMMENT: Snowpack becoming wet at all levels. GLENCOE AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS MON 3/3/03 Snow showers overnight above 850 metres and variable Southerly winds have formed areas of deep soft slab in sheltered areas at higher levels generally above 1000 metres. Greatest depths are to be found around the tops of scarp slopes with a North-West to Easterly aspect and in sheltered summit gully exits. Bonding is moderate to poor on steep slopes in these locations. Elsewhere the snowpack is moist and stability is generally good. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK TUE 4/3/03 Progressively milder conditions will affect the area for the forecast period. Moderate rain with sleet at the highest levels overnight will saturate and reduce the snowpack. This will give a period of higher instability overnight as recent accumulations of snow become saturated. Freezing levels will rise to around 1800 metres during the course of Tuesday with further rain at all levels. Initially wet snow instabilities will exist on steep slopes and gullies with cornices remaining prone to collapse. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3) with stability improving later in affected areas: elsewhere the snowpack will be soft moist and generally stable. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Snow above 800 metres ICING: Ice above 800m generally thawing. COMMENT: Forecast summit temperature +4 degrees C. SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS MON 3/3/03 The superficial snow at lower altitudes has thawed and generally the snowpack remains well bonded. Localised areas of deep recent deposits exist in steeper sheltered locations on mainly N to E aspects above 900 metres. Deposits have begun to consolidate but remain potentially unstable especially at higher altitudes. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK TUE 4/3/03 There will be some overnight precipitation that has the potential to be wintry in nature on the summits. On Tuesday the freezing level will rise to 1600 metres with further moderate rainfall forecast. The recent deposits that are to be found in steeper sheltered locations on N to E aspects could be destabilised by the mild conditions and avoidance of these areas would be sensible. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Patchy but retaining a slightly more wintry appearance above 900 metres. ICING: Subject to further thawing on Tuesday. COMMENT: Significant reduction in snow cover expected with summit temperatures of +3 or +4 degrees. CREAG MEAGAIDH AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS MON 3/3/03 Although there has been no further snowfall, strong South-West winds have continued to drive snow on to lee slopes of a North- West through North-East to East aspect above 800 metres. Windslab is fairly shallow on open slopes and benefiting from the relatively mild temperatures. However in deeper deposits in sheltered gullies a shear can still be obtained fairly easily. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK TUE 4/3/03 Snow will continue to drift overnight on a gale force South wind. Windslab will continue to build in sheltered gullies on North-West to North-East aspects above 800 metres. Unfortunately, snow will then turn to rain at all levels as the freezing level climbs to well above the summits. Wet slab avalanches are likely on North-West through North-East to East aspects with cornices becoming increasingly unstable in the very mild conditions. There are large cornices threatening both sides of the approach to the Window. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Good depth in the gullies. ICING: Still good on the Post Face and in the Inner Coire. COMMENT: Aaah, lovely slush tomorrow (4.3.03), what joy! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------