NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SAT 3/1/04 Very light snow amounts have not accumulated in to any significant new slab deposits. Even though in the gullies most of the snow has arrived since the New Year, it has good stability. There are a variety of surface and near surface conditions above 950 metres; including crusts, graupel and cold, low density snow that show some shear characteristics. The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SUN 4/1/04 There will be rain this evening with temperatures at the summit still remaining just below freezing. This will soak the snow surface but stability above 950 metres will remain fair to good. There has been some small cornice build-up and these will be weak during the rain cycle. The avalanche hazard will be Moderate (Category 2). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Overall cover is much improved with rocky areas still extensive on windward terrain. Reasonably complete cover in the ski area. ICING: The best growth conditions prevail with temperatures remaining near the freezing mark. COMMENT: Worth watching for problems around terrain irregularities. LOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SAT 3/1/04 Warmer temperatures have produced a moist snowpack below 1200m. Areas of unstable snow are present on steep slopes and gullies above 1100m with a North through East to South-East aspect. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SUN 4/1/04 Colder temperatures are expected overnight followed by a gradual rise in temperature during Sunday. Snowpack stability will be generally good, but a thaw later in the day will produce localised wet snow instabilities. These will generally be confined to steep slopes and gullies above 1100m with a North through East to South-East aspect. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: General cover above 700m. ICING: Improving but a bit on the wet side at most levels today. COMMENT: Rain at all levels expected by dusk on Sunday. GLENCOE AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SAT 3/1/04 Light accumulations of fresh snow exist above 800m: this has not had a great effect on the general stability of the snowpack. The snowpack has started to become moist but remains generally stable in most places. Some isolated areas of soft slab exist in some North facing gullies above 950m. Where deeper accumulations of windslab exist bonding is moderate particularly on steeper slopes and the avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2) in these areas. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SUN 4/1/04 A mainly dry day with strong North-Westerly winds is forecast. The snowpack will re-freeze during Saturday night generally maintaining a stable snowpack. Some isolated areas of soft slab may still exist in some North facing gullies above 950m. Where deeper accumulations of windslab exist bonding will be moderate particularly on steeper slopes and the avalanche hazard will be Moderate (Category 2). Later on Sunday afternoon milder conditions and rain are expected to affect the area with the freezing level rising to well above the summits. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Snow above 500 metres. ICING: Ice on rocks and paths above 350m. COMMENT: Climbing conditions should remain stable for most of Sunday, but mild weather spreading in during the afternoon. SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SAT 3/1/04 Changeable winds have led to a variable snowpack. On E to S aspects above 900 metres soft slab is moderately to weakly bonded where it has developed on steeper slopes and convex features. Elsewhere harder windslab is moderately bonded. Strengthening winds from the NW are starting to redistribute snow. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SUN 4/1/04 Initially it will stay cooler and the snowpack will alter little. On E to S aspects above 900 metres windslab will remain moderately to weakly bonded on steeper slopes, scarp slopes and gully exits. Elsewhere will remain moderately bonded. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Generally an improved snow cover. ICING: Development is slow and often buried. COMMENT: Some ski touring possible on tracks and at higher levels. CREAG MEAGAIDH AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SAT 3/1/04 Overnight snow showers on strong Westerly winds have formed moderately bonded windslab on North through East to South aspects above 850 metres. Although stability is slowly improving in mild daytime temperatures an easy shear at 45cm was obtained in colder sub-surface layers. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). Recently formed cornices remain suspect and prone to collapse in milder temperatures. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SUN 4/1/04 Freezing levels are due to rise to above the summits through the day on a strong Westerly airflow. Snowpack stability will improve for a while. Then as sleet turns to rain at all levels later in the period wet snow instabilities will develop. Deep accumulations of windslab exist on North through East to South aspects above 800 metres and avalanches are likely on these aspects. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Good cover above 500 metres. ICING: Generally poor but slowly improving. COMMENT: Large cornices are present above many steep aspects and will be prone to collapse in milder temperatures. Run-outs may be long! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------