NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS TUE 11/3/03 Strong South-Westerly winds with snow showers above 1000 metres, have led to further build-up of moist slab on North- Easterly aspects. Field observations on a North-Easterly aspect at 1100 metres showed easy shears within the slab layers on a scarp slope. A nearby cornice did not trigger easily. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK WED 12/3/03 Light snow overnight on a strong Northerly wind will be followed by drier cooler conditions. This will generally increase stability of the existing snow-pack, but localised instabilities will remain on North-Easterly aspects above 1000 metres. Small areas of unstable slab will form overnight on South-Easterly aspects above 900 metres. These areas of slab will be easily avoidable. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Looking whiter generally. ICING: Should improve in cooler conditions. COMMENT: Weather looking more settled. LOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS TUE 11/3/03 Colder temperatures with snow overnight have been replaced by warmer conditions during Tuesday. Large areas of wet slab are present, mainly on E and NE aspects above 900m. On steep slopes, this wet slab is moderately well bonded to the underlying old snow. The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK WED 12/3/03 A spell of dry, cold settled weather is expected over the next 24 hours with the freezing level lowering to around 600m. Most of the existing snowpack, which is wet, will re-freeze and become stable. Localised areas of unstable slab will still be present on steep NE and E aspects above 1150m. The avalanche hazard will be Moderate (Category 2). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Main accumulations in NE and E facing corries above 1000m. ICING: Freezing level dropping to 600m overnight and during Wednesday. COMMENT: Good weather at last! GLENCOE AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS TUE 11/3/03 During early Tuesday morning new snow accompanied by SW through to NW winds has arrived. The greatest accumulations are in sheltered coirres and gullies with a North through to South-East aspect. The snowpack is moist but generally stable. However some shallow areas of windslab are present around the tops of gullies and on the steeper slopes above 950m these require caution. The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK WED 12/3/03 Colder and dry conditions will affect the area with easing Northerly winds. The snowpack will consolidate above 700m as the freezing level lowers further stabilising areas of moist snow. The snowpack will be generally well bonded on most aspects. Some localised patches of slab may still exist in gully exits where caution will be required. The avalanche hazard will be Moderate (Category 2). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION:Snow above 850m. ICING: Freezing level 700m going down to 400m COMMENT: Looks like being a fine day at last. SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS TUE 11/3/03 There has been no significant snow showers today and the freezing level has risen to just below 1200 metres. The damp snow is starting to consolidate in the gently rising temperatures leaving very localised areas of moderately to weakly bonded deposits. These exist in sheltered locations such as gully exits and corrie rims on N to E aspects above 950 metres. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). Generally the snowpack is well bonded. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK WED 12/3/03 High pressure will build and the freezing level will lower to 600 metres by Wednesday. The moist snow will firm up and be generally well bonded with deeper wet deposits requiring most time to re-freeze. A few localised areas of moderately bonded snow could be found in sheltered locations on N to E aspects above 950 metres. The avalanche hazard will be Moderate (Category 2). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Very little below 950 metres. Higher N to E aspects holding most. ICING: Ice has survived on the higher crags only. Buttresses are generally very lean. COMMENT: The 1000 metre plus hills are your best bet for wintry conditions. CREAG MEAGAIDH AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS TUE 11/3/03 Last night was very wet and mild leaving the surface layers of the snowpack soft and saturated. More recently, winds have swung round to the North-West with rain turning to snow above 900 metres, leaving thin, and as yet wet snow on East to South aspects. Generally, slope stability is moderate, but due to saturated sub-surface layers, there is a hazard of cornice collapse and large wet sluffs from steep gullies where wet snow overlies smooth rock. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK WED 12/3/03 It will become colder overnight which will gradually help to settle and re-freeze the remaining snowpack. However North winds will be very strong with light snow showers, forming shallow pockets of windslab on top of any remaining snow on East through South to South-West aspects above 800 metres. These areas will be confined to the tops of the most sheltered gullies and will be isolated and easily avoidable with the remainder of the snowpack becoming stable. The avalanche hazard will be Moderate (Category 2). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Becoming sparse. Good depth in North to East facinggullies. ICING: Should improve. COMMENT: Recently Mars Bars have remained unfrozen and edible. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------