LOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS MON 9/2/04 Areas of windslab of varying depth and density are present on many sheltered steep aspects. Greatest accumulations are on steep North East through to South East to South aspects above 900m. Sheltered gully tops and scarp slopes are particularly affected. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK TUE 10/2/04 A period of instability will occur overnight and into Tuesday as snow turns to rain at all levels. Wet snow instabilities will be present on many steep aspects. Avalanches are likely on steep North East through South East to South aspects above 900m. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). Cornices will be prone to collapse. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Snow lying at all levels, best cover in N and E facing corries. ICING: Freezing above the summits on Tuesday. COMMENT: Back to warm and windy tomorrow (10/2/04). ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- GLENCOE AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS MON 9/2/04 The old snowpack where exposed is very hard and icy. Moderate to weakly bonded windslab exists on steep North-East to South-Easterly slopes and in sheltered gullies mainly above 900 metres. The avalanche hazard in these areas is Considerable (Category 3) AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK TUE 10/2/04 Precipitation falling as snow showers overnight will turn to moderate rain at all levels as freezing levels rise to 1300 metres. Strong South-Westerly winds will initially form accumulations of windslab on slopes with a North through to South-Easterly aspect and in all sheltered gullies mainly above 850 metres. These accumulations and cornices will become very unstable as the rain saturates the snowpack, avalanches are likely on steep slopes. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3) CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Snow above 300 metres ICING: Ice forming above 200 metres COMMENT: Climbing conditions are improving but remain fairly lean. Some good ice and neve` around in the higher corries on Monday. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS MON 9/2/04 Consolidation in the deeper pack has improved with fair stability demonstrated. Yesterday's drifted deposits are present as moderately to weakly bonded surface layers in sheltered locations on E to S aspects. These locally unstable deposits are mainly to be found at the tops of scarp slopes, gully exits and in steep burns. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK TUE 10/2/04 Snow showers will eventually turn to rain at all levels by early Tuesday morning with the freezing level rising to 1300 metres. The majority of the snow will be well bonded but any new deposits on N to E aspects and recent drifted deposits on E to S aspects will become unstable. Greatest hazard is likely to be found in steeper sheltered locations on these aspects where avalanches are likely. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). Recently formed cornices will also present a hazard as the thaw becomes established. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: A thin general cover with deeper drifts in sheltered locations. ICING: Limited growth won't survive a prolonged thaw. COMMENT: Expect superficial cover to thaw rapidly. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS MON 9/2/04 Winds decreased from the North-East to leave a dry day with summit temperatures well below zero. Tests on an Easterly aspect at 1070 metres showed moderate shears between hard and soft layers with a steep temperature gradient from the surface to 40 centimetres down, but stability has generally improved. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK TUE 10/2/04 Winds will change to the South-West with showers of snow turning to rain up to summit levels overnight. There will be a period of Instability mainly on East through South to South- West aspects above 950 metres. Avalanches are likely due to rain and warming, also cornices will be prone to collapse. North-East aspects will also have isolated areas of instability, mainly on steep gully exits. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: There are large areas of snow with equally large areas of bare ground on plateau. ICING: Some ice forming. COMMENT: The milder weather returns. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- CREAG MEAGAIDH AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS MON 9/2/04 Some consolidation of existing deposits has occurred. Field tests showed improved stability of recent storm snow accumulations on North-West through East to South-East aspects. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK TUE 10/2/04 Further snow overnight on moderate South West winds, will turn to rain in rising summit temperatures (plus 3øC) on Tues. This will see a period of high instability and avalanches will occur on slopes of all aspects. Cornices will become unstable with the onset of milder wet conditions. The avalanche hazard will be High (Category 4). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Patchy cover above 400 metres with drifting in sheltered locations. ICING: Some ice build up noted..likely to be short lived! COMMENT: Good walking conditions on tops on Tues, difficult conditions still on most approach routes. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------