LOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS MON 2/2/04 Warm conditions with rain has led to a moist snowpack at all levels. A period of high instability has resulted, with unstable wet snow on many aspects. Areas particularly affected are steep North, North-East and East facing slopes and gullies above 900m. The avalanche hazard is High (Category 4). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK TUE 3/2/04 The heavy rain will continue with the freezing level staying well above the summits. The snowpack will become further saturated and reduced as the thaw continues. Wet snow instabilities will be present on many aspects, notably steep North, North-East and East facing slopes and gullies above 900m. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Wet snow at all levels. General snow line around 700m and rising! ICING: Freezing level remaining well above the summits. COMMENT: Gale force winds across the area on Tuesday. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- CREAG MEAGAIDH AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS MON 2/2/04 A period of very poor stability, brought on by mild temperatures and heavy rain, resulted in excess of 15 avalanches within the boundaries of the forecast area. Wet slab and cornice debris was noted below most North through East to South-East aspects, and some of these events were quite large. Loose snow avalanche debris was also evident below steep ground of various other aspects. Rain is continuing to soak and de-stabilise the snowpack at all levels and so the avalanche hazard remains High (Category 4). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK TUE 3/2/04 Periods of heavy rain and very mild temperatures will maintain poor stability on slopes of all aspects down to 600 metres, where avalanches will occur. Older and deeper deposits of windslab will become thoroughly wet and unstable, as will all cornices. There will also be an enhanced risk of full depth avalanches in steep locations. The avalanche hazard will be High (Category 4). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Very wet snow to summits. Effective snowline now 550 metres after the rapid thaw. ICING: Some still hanging on in there but likely to fall off very soon. COMMENT: Tuesday looks like being another utterly pants day in this neck of the woods. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- CREAG MEAGAIDH AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS MON 2/2/04 A period of very poor stability, brought on by mild temperatures and heavy rain, resulted in excess of 15 avalanches within the boundaries of the forecast area. Wet slab and cornice debris was noted below most North through East to South-East aspects, and some of these events were quite large. Loose snow avalanche debris was also evident below steep ground of various other aspects. Rain is continuing to soak and de-stabilise the snowpack at all levels and so the avalanche hazard remains High (Category 4). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK TUE 3/2/04 Periods of heavy rain and very mild temperatures will maintain poor stability on slopes of all aspects down to 600 metres, where avalanches will occur. Older and deeper deposits of windslab will become thoroughly wet and unstable, as will all cornices. There will also be an enhanced risk of full depth avalanches in steep locations. The avalanche hazard will be High (Category 4). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Very wet snow to summits. Effective snowline now 550 metres after the rapid thaw. ICING: Some still hanging on in there but likely to fall off very soon. COMMENT: Tuesday looks like being another utterly pants day in this neck of the woods. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS MON 2/2/04 The air temperature has steadily risen to +1.6 degrees centigrade at 930 metres this afternoon with rain arriving around mid-day. Thaw conditions are starting to take hold especially at lower altitudes. The recent windslab that exists on N to E aspects is unstable and shearing easily especially on steeper terrain. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). Cornices are softening. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK TUE 3/2/04 Instability will continue this evening as the freezing level rises higher and locally heavy rain soaks the snowpack. Summit temperatures are forecast to reach +6 degrees centigrade tomorrow with significant thawing taking place. Surface instability will persist on steeper terrain on mainly N to E aspects above 900 metres. Where cornices exist the risk of collapse will be significant. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Thawing rapidly with the ground breaking through even above 1000 metres. ICING: What little there was will thaw rapidly tomorrow. COMMENT: Hazardous gusts forecast for Tuesday. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS MON 2/2/04 There has been strong Westerly winds with summit temperatures hovering around zero. The surface snow has thawed slightly but there is still cooler dry snow below this. Field tests above 1000 metres on a North-Easterly aspect showed very easy shears below the surface where a firmer layer lies on a very soft layer. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK TUE 3/2/04 There will be increasingly strong South-Westerly winds with localised heavy rain at all levels. The snow-pack will continue to thaw and become rain soaked. Avalanches will occur due to areas of poorly bonded wet snow on nearly all aspects above 900 metres, especially where there are large areas of steep open ground. Cornices will also be prone to collapse. The avalanche hazard will be High (Category 4). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Cover still good especially in the ski area. ICING: There is still snow on the buttresses. COMMENT: Beware of rockfall in the thaw conditions! ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- GLENCOE AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS MON 2/2/04 Very heavy rain today has saturated and reduced the snowpack. Wet snow instabilities exist deep within the snowpack on many steep slopes. Areas most at risk are sheltered gullies, hollows and slopes with a North to South-Easterly aspect mainly above 900 metres in particular where deeper accumulations of more recent snow exist. The avalanche hazard is High (Category 4). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK TUE 3/2/04 Very mild conditions and heavy rain will continue to affect the area. The snowpack will remain saturated but generally will undergo an improvement in stability. Wet snow instabilities will remain on the steepest slopes and gullies mainly with a North through to Easterly aspect above 900 metres. Cornices above these areas will also remain suspect. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3) on the steepest slopes. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Snow above 700 metres ICING: Thawing ice above 800 metres COMMENT: Poor outlook, very windy wet and mild with temperatures of around + 6 degrees centigrade on the summits. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------