NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SUN 7/3/04 Fresh, mainly Northerly winds persisted overnight and during the day, bringing snow showers, sometimes heavy. New slab layers containing graupel gave an easy shear on the old melt- freeze layer at a South-East facing test site at 1100 metres. Avalanche activity was noted from a large slab release on a North-East aspect in Coire an Lochain, Cairngorm just before mid-day. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK MON 8/3/04 Fine, stable conditions will prevail, with summit temperatures below zero. This will bring little change to the snowpack. The recent slab accumulations on mainly Southerly aspects will continue to show marginal stability. The persistent deep-seated weak layer on most aspects above 900 metres will continue to present a hazard, particularly on steep, convex slopes. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Fresh snow above 550 m with main accumulations in recessed corries and on plateau. ICING: Should see some improvement. COMMENT: The persistent weak layer presents a special hazard for larger parties (High Additional Load!) LOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SUN 7/3/04 Localised areas of soft, moderately bonded windslab are present mainly on North, North-East and East facing slopes and gullies above 1100m. On Ben Nevis, up-slope winds are scouring gullies in the Corie na Ciste area. The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK MON 8/3/04 Cold and dry conditions are expected overnight and during Monday. Little change is expected to the current snow conditions. Localised areas of soft, moderately bonded windslab will be present mainly on North, North-East and East facing slopes and gullies above 1100m. The avalanche hazard will be Moderate (Category 2). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Fresh snow lying down to 900m. ICING: Remaining cold through out the period. COMMENT: Lighter winds. GLENCOE AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SUN 7/3/04 A light cover of recent snow exists above 900m. Variable winds have formed isolated accumulations of weakly bonded windslab on steep slopes in the most sheltered areas mainly above 950 metres. Greatest accumulations are in summit gullies and slopes with a North-East to Southerly aspect. Surface instabilities are also forming on slopes affected by sun warming. Avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK MON 8/3/04 Dry cool and settled conditions will affect the area. Little change is expected to the overall condition of the snowpack. The older snow will remain firm and stable other than areas affected by sun warming where surface instabilities will form. Moderate to weakly bonded windslab will remain in sheltered gullies and on slopes with a North-East to Southerly aspect above 950 metres. The avalanche hazard will be Moderate (Category 2). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Mainly in sheltered high corries and gullies above 850 metres. ICING: Mainly above 700 metres COMMENT: Remaining cool. Freezing level 400m overnight, 600m on Monday. Cornices will weaken with the effects of solar warming during the course of the day. SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SUN 7/3/04 Snow showers have formed fresh deposits on SE to SW aspects above 600 metres. Generally these deposits are shallow but in more sheltered locations above 800 metres some deeper accumulations exist. Greater amounts of snow are to be found on the South Cairngorms than on the White Mounth. The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK MON 8/3/04 With dry calm weather forecast there will be little change to the current situation. Moderately bonded layers will be found in the deeper accumulations that exist in sheltered locations on SE to SW aspects above 800 metres. The avalanche hazard will be Moderate (Category 2). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: The higher plateau areas of the South Cairngorms have reasonable cover. ICING: High N and E facing corries are the best option. South facing buttresses are black. COMMENT: Ski tourers are reporting good conditions on the higher plateau areas after the extended walk-in. CREAG MEAGAIDH AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SUN 7/3/04 Some snow showers and Northerly winds have combined to create accumulations of soft new windslab on East to South-East aspects. This new slab is up to 25 cms deep in a few places but in general deposits are thin and confined to very sheltered locations above 950 metres. Fluctuating temperatures are beginning to consolidate this new slab but the avalanche hazard remains Moderate (Category 2). A little new cornice development was noted above very steep Southerly aspects. Old snow on all other aspects is well-consolidated and stable. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK MON 8/3/04 The onset of fine settled weather will stabilise the snowpack in most locations. A few minor wet sluffs are possible as the sun warms the most recent thin windslab on very steep and sun- exposed South-East to Southerly aspects above 900 metres. The avalanche hazard will be Low (Category 1). Recently formed cornices above Southerly aspects may soften and collapse in the event of prolonged solar warming. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Biggest patches are above 800 metres, some with an unyielding surface. A little fresh snow above 700 metres. ICING: Crags in Coire Ardair very busy again on Sunday. COMMENT: A few days of settled weather in prospect. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------