NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS MON 8/3/04 It has been a fine sunny day with light South-Easterly winds and summit temperatures remaining just below zero. The snow- pack at 1050 metres on a North-East aspect showed hard and soft layers of slab on the old snow-ice base layer and tests showed easy shears. East to South aspects above 950 metres show instabilities due to recent loading. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK TUE 9/3/04 The fine dry weather will continue with light South-Easterly winds and summit temperatures just above zero. Avalanches are likely on a limited number of steep open convex slopes above 950 metres on East to South aspects due to recent loading. The residual deep-seated weakness will also exist on most aspects above 900 metres. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Snow level above 550m with good cover on the plateau. ICING: Buttresses are still very white but ice is limited. COMMENT: The weak faceted layer still exists on most aspects. LOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS MON 8/3/04 Localised areas of moderately to weakly bonded windslab are present in sheltered locations. Distribution of these areas is variable, with the largest on North-East to East to South facing slopes and gullies above 1100m. Soft surface instabilities are present on steep slopes exposed to solar radiation. The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK TUE 9/3/04 Cold and dry conditions are forecasted overnight and during Tuesday. Little change will occur to the current snow conditions. Localised areas of windslab will be present mainly on North-East to East to South facing slopes and gullies above 1100m. Soft surface instabilities will form on steep slopes exposed to the Sun. The avalanche hazard will be Moderate (Category 2). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Best cover in high North and East facing corries. ICING: Remaining cold through out the period. COMMENT: Very spring-like on the tops today. GLENCOE AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS MON 8/3/04 Cold conditions overnight re-froze much of the old snowpack and formed a widespread cover of surface hoar. Isolated accumulations of moderate to weakly bonded windslab remain on steep slopes in the most sheltered areas mainly above 950 metres. Greatest accumulations are in summit gullies and slopes with a North to Easterly aspect. Surface instabilities are also forming on slopes affected by sun warming. Avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK TUE 9/3/04 Dry and cool conditions will continue to affect the area. Little change is expected to the overall condition of the snowpack. Where exposed 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 to Easterly 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: Old snow hard and icy in places, crampons and axe essential. Cornices will weaken with the effects of solar warming during the course of the Tuesday. SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS MON 8/3/04 On SE to SW aspects surface layers have been softened in the strong sun but are stable. In deeper accumulations dry moderately bonded snow is still to be found. In steeper locations sheltered from the sun surface layers are also moderately bonded above 920 metres. The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK TUE 9/3/04 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 and also on steeper slopes on N to NE aspects above 920 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: Some good ice on a few selected routes in Lochnagar. COMMENT: Good ski touring higher up for those prepared to walk in. CREAG MEAGAIDH AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS MON 8/3/04 It was a dry and clear day with light variable winds. Shallow and isolated pockets of moderately bonded windslab are present on some shaded East to North aspects above 900 metres, but do not pose any significant hazard. Elsewhere strong sunshine has aided recent windslab stability and the snowpack is generally well bonded and stable. The avalanche hazard is Low (Category 1). Recently formed cornice fringes were observed collapsing on a SouthEast aspect in strong sunshine. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK TUE 9/3/04 Ther will be little change, staying dry and clear with light South-East winds. Isolated and shallow pockets of moderately bonded windslab will persist on some shaded North to East aspects above 900 metres but will not pose any significant hazard. The snowpack will remain generally well bonded and stable on all aspects. The avalanche hazard will be Low (Category 1). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: High corries and plateau hold the most. ICING: Good ice pitches on selected routes and no one on them. COMMENT: Settled weather forecast to continue for a while. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------