NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS TUE 4/3/03 Mild temperatures and rain carried on a strong Southerly wind have saturated the snowpack. Field tests at 1100 metres on a North-East aspect showed moderate shears at various levels. These instabilities are found in the deep soft snow, which fell on Sunday and is now beginning to thaw. This unstable snow can be found on all slopes, but is mainly on North-West through to East aspects above 950 metres. Cornices are prone to collapse. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK WED 5/3/03 Moderate rain overnight on South-Westerly winds will be followed by drier, slightly cooler conditions on Wednesday. This will slightly stabilise the snowpack but with freezing levels hovering around the summits it will continue to thaw gently. The highest hazard areas again will be on North-West through to East facing slopes above 950 metres. Cornices will be liable to collapse. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Wet deep drifts above 700 metres make travel hard work. ICING: Limited icing suffering in thawing conditions. COMMENT: Still potential for cornice collapse and rock fall. LOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS TUE 4/3/03 Rain at all levels has produced a moist snowpack. On steep NW, N, NE and E aspects above 950m, unstable surface snow has been gradually consolidating during the day. The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK WED 5/3/03 Rain will continue at all levels overnight before slightly cooler and drier conditions arrive during Wednesday. The snowpack will continue to thaw overnight before re-freezing above 900m during Wednesday. Occasional light snow showers above 1000m during Wednesday will form shallow deposits of fresh snow, greatest accumulations being on N and NE facing scarp slopes. The avalanche hazard will be Moderate (Category 2). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Wet snowpack at all levels. ICING: Freezing level lowering to 1200m on Wednesday. COMMENT: Strong SW winds expected. GLENCOE AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS TUE 4/3/03 Mild conditions and rain have softened and saturated the snowpack at all levels. Wet snow instabilities exist on steep slopes and gullies mainly at levels above 1000 metres: cornices are also prone to collapse. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). In many areas stability is good. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK WED 5/3/03 Rain at all levels overnight will turn to sleet or snow on the higher slopes on Wednesday as cooler conditions affect the area. During this period the existing snowpack will start to firm up above 1000 metres. Light new snow and strong South-Westerly winds will form isolated areas of windslab around the tops of sheltered gullies and on scarp slopes with a North to East aspect above 900 metres. Windslab accumulations are not expected to extensive or of any great depth. The avalanche hazard will be Moderate (Category 2). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Wet snow above 800 metres ICING: Thawing at all levels. COMMENT: Slightly cooler outlook with the possibility of sunny spells between showers for Wednesday. SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS TUE 4/3/03 The freezing level is rising more slowly than expected only going above 1200 metres by early afternoon. The snowpack is wet but generally well bonded. Localised areas of moderately bonded deposits exist in steeper sheltered locations on mainly N to E aspects above 900 metres. The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK WED 5/3/03 It will be a very warm night with the freezing level rising to 2000 metres. By morning it will have lowered to between 1200 metres and 1300 metres. The snowpack will be wet and soft at all levels. Deposits will generally be well bonded. Localised areas of moderately bonded snow will exist in steeper sheltered locations on mainly N to E aspects above 900 metres. The avalanche hazard will be Moderate (Category 2). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Very soft and wet patches. ICING: Significant thaw conditions expected overnight. COMMENT: 2000 metre freezing level will cause further reduction in the sparse snowpack. CREAG MEAGAIDH AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS TUE 4/3/03 The slow thaw has continued with moderate South-West wind and light rain showers at all levels. Deposits of fresh windslab still exist on North-West through North to East aspects above 850 metres. These deposits remain soft with a wet surface and are moderately bonded to underlying old snow. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3) with steep and convex terrain remaining suspect. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK WED 5/3/03 It will remain mild overnight with moderate rain at all levels and strong South-West winds. Wet snow instabilities will develop on steep North-West through North to East aspects above 900 metres, where avalanches are likely. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). Later in the period dry and colder temperatures will begin to consolidate the snowpack. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Patchy with reasonable cover in high corries and most gullies. ICING: Thawing but still hanging on! COMMENT: Cornices will be suspect in continuing mild and wet weather. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------