NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS WED 3/3/04 The prevailing winds were strong South-Westerly with temperatures going up to 2 degrees at the summit and snow showers. Loading of new snow and further wind transport were highly variable by aspect on approach slopes and crag aprons. Although the warming has contributed to some settlement of the snowpack there is still a shear due to facets about 30-40 centimetres down. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3) AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK THU 4/3/04 Moderate snow followed by a brief period of rain is forecast. Winds will ease and become light Southerly. The instability due to a weak layer on older melt-freeze crust will persist. Avalanches will occur due to rain on all aspects where the buried faceted weak layer persists. This is mainly on steep Southerly aspects but also on a variety of aspects of the crag aprons above 950 metres. The avalanche hazard will be High (Category 4). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Slushy footwork below 750 metres, still maintaining a near dry surface above 1050m. ICING: Will grow rapidly if this warming is short lived. COMMENT: Interesting, highly variable distribution of slab instability in the corries. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- GLENCOE AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS WED 3/3/04 The snowpack stability is still generally good. Some light accumulations of fresh snow above 900m have formed isolated areas of weakly bonded windslab in sheltered areas. The greatest accumulations are on Northerly aspects mainly above 950 metres. The avalanche hazard in these locations is Moderate (Category 2). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK THU 4/3/04 Snow showers and strong Southerly winds above 600m becoming 800m. It will also become milder this will lead to wet snow instabilities on most steep slopes. The greatest hazard will be where windslab has formed on sheltered Northwest through to Northeast aspects above 900 metres. On steeper slopes and especially around the tops of gullies these deposits will not be well bonded to underlying snow ice and the avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Mainly in sheltered corries and gullies above 800 metres. Widespread snow ice. ICING: Thawing ice on rocks and paths above 350 metres. COMMENT: Milder weather than of late but wet fresh snow above 600m at first becoming 1200m. Freezing rising to around 1000m plus! ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- LOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS WED 3/3/04 Southerly winds and snow overnight and during Wednesday has formed weakly bonded soft windslab in sheltered locations above 1000 metres. Greatest accumulations are on North through to East aspects, notably scarp slopes and the tops of gullies. Below 1000 metres the existing snowpack is becoming wet and is generally stable. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). Avalanche debris noted on the above aspects, Aonach Mor. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK THU 4/3/04 Snow and Southerly winds will continue to add to existing soft windslab deposits overnight. Greatest accumulations will be on steep North through to East aspects above 1000m, notably scarp slopes and the tops of gullies. Avalanches are likely, particularly as snow turns to rain at all levels during Thursday. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). Fresh cornices will be prone to collapse. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Fresh snow above 800 metres today (03/03/04) ICING: Freezing level lowering to 600m overnight before rising above the summits on Thursday. COMMENT: Main fresh snow above 1050 metres. Caution advised with regards to fresh cornice collapse and long runout zones. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS WED 3/3/04 Very gently rising temperatures have improved the stability of the remaining snow. In the deeper patches of snow which are mainly to be found on SE to SW aspects stability is moderate. The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK THU 4/3/04 It will be a cold night with a general covering of new snow above 400 metres. Stability of older refrozen snow will be good but on steeper slopes new accumulations will be moderately to weakly bonded where they overlie snow-ice. All snow will start to thaw as the temperatures rise later in the day. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: A very slow thaw today. Some loss below 700 metres. ICING: Current freeze thaw cycle may improve conditions. COMMENT: Freezing levels due to rise in the afternoon. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------