NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS THU 13/3/03 There were clear blue skies this morning, and some high thin cloud in the afternoon. Temperatures warmed to just above freezing on the summit, but North aspects remained cool. At a snow profile site (of angle 50 degrees) on a North aspect at 1130 metres there were no results from shear tests. The avalanche hazard is Low (Category 1). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK FRI 14/3/03 The weather will continue dry with light Southerly winds. On South aspects there will be minor instability due to direct sun warming, particularly in the afternoon if skies remain clear. On North aspects the snow stability will be good. The avalanche hazard will be Low (Category 1). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Plateau available for skiing. ICING: Improving on North aspects, melting on South aspects. COMMENT: Snow profiles and stability tests are representative of localised conditions; conditions may vary across the mountain. LOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS WED 12/3/03 A fine day, a light NE wind and colder temperatures have helped consolidate the existing snowpack. Accumulations of moderately bonded snow are present on steep NE to E through to S aspects above 1100m. Localised surface instabilities are developing on steep aspects exposed to the sun. The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK THU 13/3/03 Cold conditions and continuing high pressure will see little change in the existing snowpack. Accumulations of moderately bonded snow will be present on steep NE to E through to S aspects above 1100m. Localised surface instabilities will form on steep aspects exposed to the sun. The avalanche hazard will be Moderate (Category 2). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Main accumulations in high N and E facing corries above 1000m. ICING: Colder today (Weds), water ice freezing from 600m. Dripping in the sun though. COMMENT: Fine day to be on the tops today. Hazard of ice and rock fall in areas exposed to the sun. GLENCOE AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS THU 13/3/03 Cold and dry conditions have affected the area with light Easterly winds. The snowpack has consolidated above 700m and is generally well bonded and stable on most aspects. Some verglas is present on rocks and paths. The avalanche hazard is Low (Category 1). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK FRI 14/3/03 Cold and dry conditions will continue to affect the area with light to moderate South-East winds. The snowpack will remain generally well bonded and stable. The avalanche hazard will be Low (Category 1). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION:Snow above 750m. ICING: Freezing level rising to 600m during Friday. COMMENT: Looks like being another fine day again. Good neve on most slopes above 800m. where crampons are required. SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS THU 13/3/03 It's been a stunning day with the cloud finally clearing. The patchy snowpack is generally well bonded. Recent deposits on South-East to South-West aspects have settled quickly and are moderately bonded with some surface instability due to solar warming. Recently formed small cornices are also softening on South aspects. The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK FRI 14/3/03 High pressure will continue with the winds strengthening a little. The snowpack will be generally well bonded with South facing aspects becoming icy by morning. Localised areas of moderately bonded deposits will be found in very sheltered locations on South-East to South-West aspects. As the day progresses there will be some surface instability due to solar warming. The avalanche hazard will be Moderate (Category 2). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Mostly above 950 metres and in N to E facing corries. ICING: The NE facing buttresses in Garbh Choire, Beinn a'Bhuird are still snowed up. COMMENT: Another good day for tomorrow. CREAG MEAGAIDH AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS THU 13/3/03 After a cold, calm and clear night with a freeze at all levels the snowpack has become generally well bonded and stable on all aspects. Surface layers at lower altitudes are softening as the strong sunshine warms the air but still remain stable. Despite the avalanche hazard on slopes being Low (Category 1) there is risk of cornice collapse from any fragile cornices directly effected by the strong sunshine. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK FRI 14/3/03 It will remain dry and cold at night with high pressure dominating the region. There will be little change to the current snow conditions with the snowpack remaining well bonded and stable on all aspects. Despite slopes remaining stable any fragile cornices directly effected by strong sunshine should be avoided in case of collapse. There are large cornices above approaches to the Window and above many other steep North to East aspects. The avalanche hazard will remain, Low (Category 1). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Main cover above 800 metres on North to East aspects. ICING: Still hanging on but rotten and melting. You'd have to climb at 3.00 a. m. to ensure some sort of freeze. COMMENT: The avalanche hazard may be Low but cornices don't know this. Steer clear of any large, sun-effected examples! ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS THU 13/3/03 There were clear blue skies this morning, and some high thin cloud in the afternoon. Temperatures warmed to just above freezing on the summit, but North aspects remained cool. At a snow profile site (of angle 50 degrees) on a North aspect at 1130 metres there were no results from shear tests. The avalanche hazard is Low (Category 1). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK FRI 14/3/03 The weather will continue dry with light Southerly winds. On South aspects there will be minor instability due to direct sun warming, particularly in the afternoon if skies remain clear. On North aspects the snow stability will be good. The avalanche hazard will be Low (Category 1). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Plateau available for skiing. ICING: Improving on North aspects, melting on South aspects. COMMENT: Snow profiles and stability tests are representative of localised conditions; conditions may vary across the mountain. LOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS THU 13/3/03 Cold conditions and a high pressure system are continuing to maintain moderate instabilities in the snow-pack. Greatest accumulations are on shady steep North-East to East aspects above 1100 metres. Soft surface instabilities are also present on steep South-East to South slopes directly exposed to the sun. The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK FRI 14/3/03 Little change is expected over the next 24hrs. Temperatures will rise above freezing on the tops when free of cloud. Soft surface instabilities will form on steep slopes of any aspect exposed to the sun above 1100 metres. Existing moderately bonded snow will remain on shady North-East through East to South-East aspects above 1100 metres. The avalanche hazard will be Moderate (Category 2). Slopes exposed to softening cornices should be treated with caution. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Best cover in high N and E facing corries ICING: Freezing above 400m on friday, thawing in the sun. COMMENT: Another great day today, cornices softening in the sun, watch those run out zones. GLENCOE AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS THU 13/3/03 Cold and dry conditions have affected the area with light Easterly winds. The snowpack has consolidated above 700m and is generally well bonded and stable on most aspects. Some verglas is present on rocks and paths. The avalanche hazard is Low (Category 1). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK FRI 14/3/03 Cold and dry conditions will continue to affect the area with light to moderate South-East winds. The snowpack will remain generally well bonded and stable. The avalanche hazard will be Low (Category 1). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION:Snow above 750m. ICING: Freezing level rising to 600m during Friday. COMMENT: Looks like being another fine day again. Good neve on most slopes above 800m. where crampons are required. SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS THU 13/3/03 It's been a stunning day with the cloud finally clearing. The patchy snowpack is generally well bonded. Recent deposits on South-East to South-West aspects have settled quickly and are moderately bonded with some surface instability due to solar warming. Recently formed small cornices are also softening on South aspects. The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK FRI 14/3/03 High pressure will continue with the winds strengthening a little. The snowpack will be generally well bonded with South facing aspects becoming icy by morning. Localised areas of moderately bonded deposits will be found in very sheltered locations on South-East to South-West aspects. As the day progresses there will be some surface instability due to solar warming. The avalanche hazard will be Moderate (Category 2). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Mostly above 950 metres and in N to E facing corries. ICING: The NE facing buttresses in Garbh Choire, Beinn a'Bhuird are still snowed up. COMMENT: Another good day for tomorrow. CREAG MEAGAIDH AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS THU 13/3/03 After a cold, calm and clear night with a freeze at all levels the snowpack has become generally well bonded and stable on all aspects. Surface layers at lower altitudes are softening as the strong sunshine warms the air but still remain stable. Despite the avalanche hazard on slopes being Low (Category 1) there is risk of cornice collapse from any fragile cornices directly effected by the strong sunshine. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK FRI 14/3/03 It will remain dry and cold at night with high pressure dominating the region. There will be little change to the current snow conditions with the snowpack remaining well bonded and stable on all aspects. Despite slopes remaining stable any fragile cornices directly effected by strong sunshine should be avoided in case of collapse. There are large cornices above approaches to the Window and above many other steep North to East aspects. The avalanche hazard will remain, Low (Category 1). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Main cover above 800 metres on North to East aspects. ICING: Still hanging on but rotten and melting. You'd have to climb at 3.00 a. m. to ensure some sort of freeze. COMMENT: The avalanche hazard may be Low but cornices don't know this. Steer clear of any large, sun-effected examples! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------