NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SAT 7/2/04 Snow showers fell at all levels on North-Westerly winds. There is still bare ground and hard snow-ice in exposed areas but deep accumulations of soft slab exist on North through East to South-East aspects above 950 metres. The new snow showed soft and hard slab instabilities with very easy shears. The avalanche hazard is High (Category 4). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SUN 8/2/04 Temperatures will remain cold with more snow on strong North- Westerly winds. There will be further loading on existing unstable slab and avalanches will occur mainly on East to South-East aspects above 950 metres. Areas of instability will also exist on Northerly aspects, especially steep exit slopes and crag aprons. Cornice development will be mostly on South- East aspects. The avalanche hazard will be (High Category 4). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Snow cover improving with deep drifts in places. ICING: Buttresses turning white and some ice patches remain. COMMENT: Long may it last! LOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SAT 7/2/04 Accumulations of weakly bonded windslab are present on aspects sheltered from the strong West winds. Steep North through East to South-East aspects above 900 metres hold the greatest accumulations. Under test this slab shears easily, with fracture depths reaching 50cms. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). Avalanche activity observed in Easy Gully, Aonach Mor. Unstable cornices are present. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SUN 8/2/04 A strong showery North-West airflow will continue to form weakly bonded windslab in sheltered locations. Greatest accumulations will be on North through East to South-East aspects above 900 metres, particularly the tops of gullies, scarp slopes and crag aprons, where avalanches will occur. The avalanche hazard will be High (Category 4). Unstable cornices will be present. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Heavy snow showers down to sea level today (7/2/04) ICING: Ice build up is improving along with rime on the crags. Turf is still soggy though. COMMENT: Winds remaining strong into Sunday. GLENCOE AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SAT 7/2/04 Frequent heavy snow showers and very strong Westerly winds have formed weakly bonded accumulations of soft slab in sheltered areas. The greatest accumulations are on North to East aspects but also in all sheltered summit gullies above 930 metres. Fresh hail is present within some of these accumulations giving an easy shear, especially on scarp slopes. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). Cornices are also very unstable AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SUN 8/2/04 Very strong North-Westerly winds and snow showers will continue through Saturday night becoming less frequent during Sunday. Windslab will form on slopes with a North through East to Southerly aspect mainly above 800 metres and in all sheltered gullies. Windslab will be weakly bonded particularly on steeper slopes and where deeper accumulations have formed avalanches are likely. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: New snow above 200 metres ICING: Highest levels only but getting colder COMMENT: Very windy forecast for Sunday. Scarp slopes very weakly bonded. Fresh cornices will be also prone to collapse. Buttresses and ridges are the safer option. SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SAT 7/2/04 Snow showers and strong Westerly winds prevailed during the day. Where sampled on an Easterly aspect there was an easy shear down about 20 centimetres. This shear showed potential to fracture across steep unsupported snow. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SUN 8/2/04 Snow showers, heavy at times, with very strong North-Westerly winds are forecast. Freezing level will remain around 600 metres. Rapid cornice development will occur on Easterly aspects and other local terrain irregularities. Further slab development with poor bond to the old snow-ice surface will build mainly on East and South aspects above 900 metres where avalanches are likely. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Winter temperatures but some more winter cover on the ground required for skiing and boarding. ICING: Some recovery expected. COMMENT: Numerous avalanches reported in other parts of the Highlands. CREAG MEAGAIDH AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SAT 7/2/04 Heavy prolonged snow showers on gale force Westerly winds have led to the development of widespread fresh windslab. North-East to South-East aspects above 800 metres are affected with variable depths. Sheltered hollows, the tops of gullies and scarp slopes hold deepest deposits. Field tests showed poor stability with easy shears obtained. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SUN 8/2/04 Snow will continue through the period on severe gale force North-West winds. North-East through East to South aspects above 800 metres will continue to be loaded with unstable windslab deposits and avalanches are likely. Sheltered hollows, scarp slopes and gullies will hold deepest deposits and triggering will be possible with low additional loads. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). Large cornices will continue to form above steep sheltered aspects. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Snow at all levels, exposed aspects are scoured by high winds. ICING: Little improvement in generally poor climbing conditions. COMMENT: Winds forecast to gust up to 100 mph on Sunday (8/2/04). -------------------------------------------------------------------------------