LOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS WED 4/2/04 Colder conditions have helped to stabilise the existing snowpack. Localised wet snow instabilities are present on steep North through East to South East aspects above 1000 metres. The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). Elsewhere the snowpack is wet and generally stable. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK THU 5/2/04 Little change is expected overnight. As Thursday progresses a colder South West airflow with light snow showers will form shallow deposits of fresh windslab. Greatest accumulations will be on sheltered North through North East to East aspects above 1100 metres. The avalanche hazard will be Moderate (Category 2). Elsewhere the snowpack will be wet and generally stable. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Greatest amounts remaining on North and East facing slopes above 900 metres. ICING: Freezing level coming back down to summit level tomorrow (5/2/04). COMMENT: A slight improvement which should halt the thaw for a while. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- GLENCOE AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS WED 4/2/04 Cooler conditions and only the odd light shower of rain today have aided consolidation of much of the remaining snowpack. Surface instabilities remain on the very steepest slopes and gullies mainly those with a Northerly to Easterly aspect above 900 metres. Some of these areas are threatened by potentially weak cornices. The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2) AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK THU 5/2/04 Moderate rainfall at all levels overnight will turn to light sleet or snow during Thursday. Strong South-Westerly winds will form areas of shallow windslab around the tops of sheltered gullies and slopes with a Northerly to Easterly aspect mainly above 900 metres. These accumulations are not expected to be deep or extensive and should generally be avoidable. The avalanche hazard will be Moderate (Category 2) where shallow windslab forms on steeper slopes or where old snow ice underlies. Cornices will remain prone to collapse. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Above 850 metres mainly in North and Eastern Corries and gullies ICING: Not a lot. COMMENT: Mild overnight becoming a bit cooler on Thursday with freezing levels down to 1200 metres ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS WED 4/2/04 It was a warm, windy Westerly day with rain from mid- afternoon. Areas of moist snow surface alternate with a supportive crust. Where sampled at 1000 metres on an Easterly aspect the snowpack is isothermal and stability is good. In the top 50 centimetres there are moist layers, slush and two nearly dry layers. The avalanche hazard is Low (Category 1). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK THU 5/2/04 A little cooling will be followed by light snow showers on South-Westerly winds. The snowpack will remain stable, however there will be small accumulations of fresh snow above 900 metres mainly on North-East aspects. The avalanche hazard will be Moderate (Category 2). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Reservations soon required on remaining areas of training snow; some gully lines still near complete. ICING: A few patches of moderate and low angle ice hanging (tenuously) in there. COMMENT: Possibly some winter relief with forecast cooling. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS WED 4/2/04 Cover has been significantly reduced in the last period and only patchy snow remains in sheltered locations and around corrie rims. The majority of the snow is soft but stable with some localised areas where moderately bonded surface layers exist. These are mainly to be found on steeper ground on N to E aspects above 950 metres. The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). Slope creepage and slumping cornices are present. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK THU 5/2/04 It will be a cooler day with some sleet forecast. This will fall as light well scattered snow showers on the highest summits only. Surface layers will gradually begin to firm up at higher elevations. The remaining patchy snow that exists mainly around corrie rims and in sheltered locations will be generally well bonded on all aspects. The avalanche hazard will be Low (Category 1). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Only patchy cover left. ICING: Very limited with soft turf and black buttresses. COMMENT: From full cover to heather in three days! ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- CREAG MEAGAIDH AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS WED 4/2/04 Dry and much cooler conditions have brought an end to the period of very poor stability. The snowpack is now patchy and limited to locations above 800 metres. Cornice debris is present below many crags and steep slopes and all but a few of the largest cornices have now collapsed. Glide cracks are evident on some larger patches of old snow and melt water continues to lubricate the base of the snowpack in these places. Recent rockfall noted below many crags. The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK THU 5/2/04 Some rain turning to isolated snow showers on South-West winds will bring little change to current conditions. Isolated patches of thin windslab may form on sheltered North to East aspects above 900 metres and where these are deepest the avalanche hazard will be Moderate (Category 2). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Very patchy indeed. ICING: Some ice hanging on in there high above exit slopes of Easy Gully above about 1000 metres. Looks pretty rotten, but it is ice! Falling ice observed on Wednesday from what's left of all principal ice pitches. COMMENT: Falling rock and ice will continue to be significant hazards until the next re-freeze. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------