NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS MON 10/3/03 Strong South-Westerly winds and some fresh snow overnight have led to a build-up of slab on mainly North-Easterly aspects above 1000 metres. This soft slab sheared easily on the buried hard crust layer. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK TUE 11/3/03 Strong variable winds with further snow showers will lead to further slab build-up on all aspects above 1000 metres. Avalanches are likely especially at the tops of steep slopes and on crag aprons. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Beginning to build again above 1000 metres ICING: Still some ice around. COMMENT: The slow cooling should improve conditions. LOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS MON 10/3/03 Cooler conditions have stabilised the existing old snowpack. Snow showers and gale force SW winds have formed fresh areas of unstable snow. New snow accumulations are not widespread and generally restricted to the tops of N, NE and E facing slopes and gullies above 950m. Elsewhere the snowpack is stable. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK TUE 11/3/03 Snow showers will continue overnight and during Tuesday. The strong SW wind will gradually veer to the NW and moderate slightly. Unstable windslab will continue to form in sheltered locations. Greatest accumulations will be at the tops of N, NE and E facing slopes and gullies. During Tuesday, windslab will also develop on sheltered SE and S aspects. Avalanches are likely in these locations. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). On slopes exposed to the wind, the snowpack will become hard frozen and stable. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Very little snow below 800m. ICING: Freezing level lowering to around 800m on Tuesday. COMMENT: Winds moderating. GLENCOE AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS MON 10/3/03 Mild conditions at most levels with strong SW winds have affected the area with a trace of fresh snow above 1100m. The snowpack is moist but generally stable. However some wet snow instabilities do exist on the steeper slopes above 950m. The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). Cornices are still unstable. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK TUE 11/3/03 A showery SW airflow during Monday night and through Tuesday will turn Northerly in the afternoon. Snow showers above 850m are not expected to be significant. The snowpack will consolidate above 850m as the freezing level lowers but generally it will remain moist and moderately bonded on the steeper slopes. The greatest accumulations of new snow will be on NE facing slopes and in sheltered gullies. Deposits of new snow are not expected to be extensive: the avalanche hazard will be Moderate (Category 2). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION:Snow above 850m. ICING: Freezing level between 1200 lowering to 850m. COMMENT:Becoming more wintry. SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS MON 10/3/03 It has become cooler with the freezing level around 900 metres. At this level both the ground and snow are still soft and will require further time to re-freeze. Above this altitude snow showers and drifting are building localised areas of moderately to weakly bonded deposits in sheltered locations on N to E aspects. Gully exits and corrie rims are most affected with spindrift observed in Lochnagar's Parallel Gullies. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK TUE 11/3/03 The showery airflow will continue with the winds easing slightly and shifting to the WNW on Tuesday afternoon. Moderately to weakly bonded deposits will be found in sheltered locations on N to E aspects above 950 metres and increasingly on SE aspects. Gully exits, steeper scarp slopes and newly formed cornices are most likely to present the greatest hazard. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Mainly above 950 metres. Beinn a'Bhuird's corries are still holding snow. ICING: Lochnagar's easier routes will come into nick with a good re-freeze. The buttresses remain very lean. COMMENT: It's still winter above 950 metres! CREAG MEAGAIDH AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS MON 10/3/03 General snowpack stability has much improved with freezing levels at around 900 metres. However light snow showers on a gale force South-West wind are beginning to form fresh deposits of windslab on North to East aspects above 900 metres. These deposits are isolated, shallow and easy to avoid and are confined to the most sheltered hollows, tops of steep gullies and lee slopes below cornices of the above mentioned aspects. The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK TUE 11/3/03 Snow showers will continue throughout the period. Overnight gale force South-West wind will continue slab development on North to East aspects above 900 metres. Later in the period winds will remain strong and turn to West-North-West with redistribution of snowfall beginning to take place on East to South-East aspects above 850 metres. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). Sheltered hollows, tops of gullies and lee slopes below cornices will be particularly affected. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: A dusting of fresh snow above 900 metres. ICING: Most has suffered in recent thaw and remains poor. COMMENT: At last hopefully a return to winter is on its way. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------