NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS FRI 7/3/03 Strong Southerly winds with moderate snow amounts have built up new accumulations of slab up to 60 centimetres thick on North aspects above 1000 metres. Poor visibility limited observations of the extent of the slab but where tested it sheared cleanly. The avalanche hazard is High (Category 4). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SAT 8/3/03 Moderate snow amounts, fluctuating freezing levels and variable wind direction are forecast for the period. Snow will fall as low as 450 metres but heaviest accumulations will be above 800 metres. Avalanches will occur due to a rise in temperature (to the freezing mark at 1200 metres) and the unsettled, poorly bonded storm snow. Avalanches will be mainly on North and East aspects above 900 metres. The avalanche hazard will be High (Category 4). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Still scoured areas and boulder zones on the plateau but deep snow in some avalanche terrain. ICING: Just a wee bit colder would be fine too. COMMENT: Is this the unsettled March weather and lambing storms rolling in? LOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS FRI 7/3/03 Areas of unstable snow are present on many steep N, NE and E aspects above 900m. Below 1100m this snow is thawing. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). Wet snow avalanche debris observed below some of the main gullies in Coire na Ciste and Observatory Gully areas of Ben Nevis. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SAT 8/3/03 Snow showers are expected to continue overnight and during Saturday. Initially a NW to W wind will form areas of unstable windslab on sheltered slopes, mainly NE, E and SE aspects. During Saturday afternoon a warm Southerly airflow will become established. This will lead to a period of high instability during Saturday afternoon. Avalanches will occur on steep N, NE and E aspects above 900m. The avalanche hazard will be High (Category 4). CLIMBING CONDITIONS: SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Fresh snow deposits lying above 900m. ICING: Wet snowpack below 1100m. COMMENT: Warm conditions arriving on Saturday afternoon will result in a period of high instability. GLENCOE AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS FRI 7/3/03 The snow showers above 800m during Thursday night with strong South-Westerly winds have formed areas of shallow soft slab. The temperature has risen rapidly during Friday morning to well above the summits causing wet snow instabilities on steep slopes. The greatest hazard is above 900m on sheltered North through to East aspects and especially around the tops of sheltered gullies and on scrap slopes. On steep N to E facing slopes these wet deposits are weakly bonded: the avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SAT 8/3/03 Snow showers will be accompanied by strong variable winds, North-West backing to Southerly. The freezing level will also vary as cold and warm fronts pass through. The old snowpack will consolidate during Friday night with new snow deposits bonding well at first. However windslab will continue to form with the strong variable winds on many aspects mainly above 800m. The greatest accumulations will be on sheltered N through to SE aspects and especially around the tops of gullies: avalanches will occur in these areas. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Wet snow above 800m. ICING: Freezing level around 1000m lowering to 400m. COMMENT: Wintry conditions. Caution is required on steep gully exits and on scarp slopes. SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS FRI 7/3/03 Precipitation fell as snow above 950 metres with some drifting from around 1050 metres. New accumulations were to be found in sheltered locations on NW to NE aspects above 950 metres. Consolidation of new wet snow was reasonable but where it had developed over older snow-ice it was moderately to weakly bonded. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SAT 8/3/03 The amount of snowfall in this period is likely to be significant. Snow will fall to around 400 metres as the freezing level drops overnight. New accumulations will be found in sheltered locations on many aspects with deepest areas found on NW through to NE aspects. Avalanches will occur on steeper slopes due to a rising freezing level in the afternoon. The avalanche hazard will be High (Category 4). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Wet snow from 950 metres. ICING: Nothing observed. COMMENT: Mountain users should carefully monitor changes in Saturday's weather. CREAG MEAGAIDH AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS FRI 7/3/03 A period of high instability has passed with much wet snow debris observed from steep North and East aspects, particularly the Post Face and Inner Coire gullies. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). Slightly cooler conditions this afternoon with light snow showers above 850 metres on a Strong South wind have begun to consolidate the snowpack. Moderately bonded windslab still exists on North through East to South-East aspects above 850 metres. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SAT 8/3/03 Moderate snow and cold temperatures are forecast for a period on variable gale force winds. Overnight, fresh windslab will build on North-East through East to South aspects above 850 metres. Through the day wind directions will move through West and eventually to South with further snowfall. Later in the period as snow turns to sleet or rain wet snow instabilities will once again develop and avalanches are likely on the above mentioned aspects. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3) CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Main cover above 800 metres. Thaw at lower levels. ICING: Some lower pitches very rotten, but holding on. COMMENT: We have forecasted for the main wind directions. Winds and snow distribution will be variable. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------