LOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS FRI 27/2/04 Light snow showers and Northerly winds have continued to form localised areas of soft windslab. These areas are generally confined to the tops of sheltered South-East, South and South- West aspects. Some sheltered East facing gullies are also affected. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3), although the hazard is generally avoidable. The pre-existing older snow remains stable. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SAT 28/2/04 Light snow showers and Northerly winds will continue overnight and during Friday. Localised areas of soft slab will be present mainly at the tops of South-East, South and South- West aspects. Some sheltered East facing gullies will also be affected. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). Elsewhere the snowpack will remain generally stable. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Light covering of fresh snow at all levels. ICING: Freezing at all levels. COMMENT: Any hazard tends to be very localised in nature. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- GLENCOE AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS FRI 27/2/04 Cold conditions have maintained very good stability of the general snowpack with a widespread frozen surface. Light snow showers and Northerly winds have formed isolated areas of weakly bonded windslab in the most sheltered of areas mainly above 950 metres. The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SAT 28/2/04 The cold Northerly airstream will persist with snow showers. The old snowpack where exposed will remain hard and icy and will be very stable. Unstable accumulations of windslab will form in sheltered locations such as summit gullies and on East through South to South-West facing slopes above 850 metres. Bonding to the underlying snow ice will be poor particularly on steeper slopes. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Mainly in sheltered corries and gullies above 850 metres. ICING: Ice on rocks and paths above 400 metres. COMMENT: Quantities of new snow are subject to local variation throughout the area. Old snowpack hard and icy, crampons and ice axe essential. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- LOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS FRI 27/2/04 Light snow showers and Northerly winds have continued to form localised areas of soft windslab. These areas are generally confined to the tops of sheltered South-East, South and South- West aspects. Some sheltered East facing gullies are also affected. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3), although the hazard is generally avoidable. The pre-existing older snow remains stable. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SAT 28/2/04 Light snow showers and Northerly winds will continue overnight. Localised areas of soft slab will remain, mainly at the tops of South-East, South and South-West aspects. Some sheltered East facing gullies will also be affected. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). Elsewhere the snowpack will remain generally stable. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Light covering of fresh snow at all levels. ICING: Freezing at all levels. COMMENT: Any hazard tends to be very localised in nature. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS FRI 27/2/04 With heavier and more frequent snow showers than on previous days and with near constant drifting, distribution of windslab has increased today. Exposed slopes remain scoured but in sheltered locations on SE to SW aspects above 700 metres multiple layers of unstable windslab exist. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SAT 28/2/04 Moderately to weakly bonded windslab will be found in sheltered locations on SE to SW aspects above 700 metres. Steeper terrain features are most likely to be affected with scarp slopes, gully exits and steep burns holding layered windslab. Newly formed cornices will be unstable. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). Exposed slopes will remain stable. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Mostly wind scoured slopes with deeper drifts on SE to SW aspects. ICING: Where moisture exists there is ice, but buttresses remain quite dry and the turf is becoming brittle. COMMENT: Watch out for cross-loaded deposits. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- LOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS FRI 27/2/04 Light snow showers and Northerly winds have continued to form localised areas of soft windslab. These areas are generally confined to the tops of sheltered South-East, South and South- West aspects. Some sheltered East facing gullies are also affected. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3), although the hazard is generally avoidable. The pre-existing older snow remains stable. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SAT 28/2/04 Light snow showers and Northerly winds will continue overnight. Localised areas of soft slab will remain, mainly at the tops of South-East, South and South-West aspects. Some sheltered East facing gullies will also be affected. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). Elsewhere the snowpack will remain generally stable. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Light covering of fresh snow at all levels. ICING: Freezing at all levels. COMMENT: Any hazard tends to be very localised in nature. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- CREAG MEAGAIDH AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS FRI 27/2/04 New snow instabilities are evident where soft slab has developed primarily on East through to South facing aspects. Recent avalanche debris noted high on South East facing slope in Coire a Chriochairein at 950 metres. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SAT 28/2/04 Further snow showers overnight and on Saturday with moderating Northerly winds will result in further soft slab development on East through to South aspects. Avalanches are likely on steep East through to South facing slopes and gully exits above 850 metres. The avalanche hazard will remain Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Light general covering with drifting on sheltered slope and hollows. ICING: Some development, but conditions remain lean. COMMENT: Slow going on approach routes with deep drifts in places. Some potential exists for high level ski touring. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS FRI 27/2/04 Above 900 metres snow showers developed into quite prolonged periods of moderate to heavy snow. Strong Northerly winds have contributed to most snow load being deposited on Southerly aspects. However some smaller terrain features of North, East and West aspect have significant foot penetrations of 40 centimetres in new snow. Snow stability in areas of new deposition is poor. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SAT 28/2/04 Snow showers will again develop into more prolonged periods of snow overnight. Cold temperatures are preserving weaknesses due to facets and firm layers over soft. Accumulations of unstable slab have now become more widespread from the previously limited extent across and downslope. Largest areas of unstable snow are on Southerly aspects however on some terrain all aspects are affected above 900 metres. Avalanches will occur and the avalanche hazard will be High (Category 4). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Poor visibility; expect heavy trail breaking in areas of plateau. ICING: Hard to see. COMMENT: All equipment required: transceiver, shovel and probe. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------