LOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS FRI 6/2/04 Strong South West to West winds with heavy snow showers are forming fresh areas of windslab in sheltered locations. Accumulations are greatest were they overlie existing older snow areas, notably sheltered steep North through East to South East aspects above 1000 metres. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SAT 7/2/04 A strong to gale force West to Northwest airflow with snow showers will continue to form areas of unstable windslab. Greatest accumulations will be on sheltered North through East to South East aspects above 900 metres. Avalanches are likely, particularly at the tops of gullies, scarp slopes and steep slopes, of the above aspects. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). Unstable cornices will form. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Fresh wet snow above 700m today (6/2/04). ICING: Colder for Saturday, freezing around 300m. COMMENT: Winds remaining strong to gale force for Saturday. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- CREAG MEAGAIDH AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS FRI 6/2/04 Snow showers on gale force Westerly winds are beginning to build fresh isolated deposits of moderately bonded windslab on North-East to South-East aspects above 900 metres. Gully tops, sheltered hollows and steep scarp slopes hold deepest deposits and field tests showed fair to moderate stability. Exposed old snow deposits above 900 metres are becoming firm and stable. The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). At lower altitudes heavy rain continues to deplete the snowpack. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SAT 7/2/04 A decrease in air temperatures and continued snow showers on gale force Westerly winds will continue to build fresh windslab on North-East through East to South-East aspects above 750 metres. Distribution will become more widespread throughout the period with weak sub-surface layers developing in deeper deposits. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). Fresh cornice development will also begin on sheltered steep aspects. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Snow line will decrease through the day. ICING: Remaining very poor or non-existent. COMMENT: A day of Extremes. Extremely wet, Extremely windy, Extremely snowy and Extremely miserable. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS FRI 6/2/04 Snow fell down to about 700 metres with deep accumulations of over 50 centimetres on some North and East aspects above 950 metres. Where soft slab formed it sheared easily on the old snow-ice surface. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SAT 7/2/04 Temperatures will become colder in a strong North-Westerly flow. Additional snow will further load the unstable slab. Avalanches will occur mainly on North and East aspects above 950 metres. Crag aprons and exit slopes will have a weakly bonded new slab. The avalanche hazard will be High (Category 4) CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Deep drifts alternating with still bare ground. ICING: A few remnants surviving. COMMENT: From Low to High hazard in 24 hours, it doesn't take long to return to full-on avalanche conditions. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS FRI 6/2/04 Overnight snow showers on the highest summits have become more widespread during the day. Localised windslab has rapidly built in sheltered locations on N to E aspects above 900 metres. Although distribution is limited deposits are locally significant and unstable. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SAT 7/2/04 Overnight snow showers will become occasional during the day but very strong winds will continue to drift deposits. Unstable accumulations will be found on N through E to SE aspects above 900 metres. Very sheltered locations that contain old snow ice such as gully exits and steeper scarp slopes will be most affected with avalanches likely in these areas. New cornices will start to form. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3) CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Very thin cover above 900 metres with deeper areas on N to E aspects. ICING: Very limited but snow ice improving as the temperature lowers. COMMENT: A few easier snow gullies remain complete on Lochnagar but careful route choice required tomorrow. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- GLENCOE AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS FRI 6/2/04 Frequent snow showers and a very strong South-Westerly airflow have formed moderate to weakly bonded accumulations of soft slab and windslab on Northern through to Eastern aspects and in sheltered summit gullies mainly above 950 metres. Fresh hail is present within some of these accumulations and this may become more significant as loading increases later with more snow. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3) on steep slopes and gullies where deep fresh snow accumulations exist. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SAT 7/2/04 Snow showers will continue through the period with very strong West to North-Westerly winds. Windslab will form in all sheltered gullies and on slopes with a North through East to Southerly aspect mainly above 800 metres. Fresh windslab will be weakly bonded where deeper accumulations form or where old snow ice underlies particularly on steeper slopes where avalanches are likely. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3) CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: New snow above 600 metres ICING: Highest levels only but getting colder COMMENT: Very windy forecast for Saturday. Fresh cornices will be prone to collapse -------------------------------------------------------------------------------