NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS FRI 12/3/04 The strongest winds of the season were recorded with a maximum of 132 mph from the South-East. The wind and moderate snow amounts have created extensive slab instability on Northerly aspects with new cornice development. The avalanche hazard is High (Category 4). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SAT 13/3/04 While the intensity of weather will ease overnight the stability of the snowpack will remain poor. Both hard and soft slab instability will exist on Northerly aspects. Although there has been slight warming the deep seated weakness due to continued cold mid-pack temperatures will persist on other aspects. Avalanches will occur, naturally and with low additional load, on all aspects above 750 metres. The avalanche hazard will be High (Category 4). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: There have been slow settlement rates of new snow and highly variable distribution in the very strong winds. ICING: No new data available. COMMENT: 24 hours after a storm event is usually considered a minimum to allow storm instability to ease. LOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS FRI 12/3/04 Gale force SE winds are continuing to form fresh areas of moderately to poorly bonded windslab in sheltered locations. This windslab is localised in distribution and generally confined to sheltered West, North-West and North aspects above 1000m. Some small accumulations also exist on North-East and East aspects. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). In other locations, the snowpack is generally stable. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SAT 13/3/04 SE winds will ease overnight with light snowfall. Localised areas of unstable windslab will be present in areas sheltered from the SE winds. Greatest accumulations will be on sheltered West, North-West and North aspects above 1000m. Localised accumulations will also be present on North-East and East aspects. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Main accumulations remain in high N and E facing corries. A very light dusting of fresh snow above 550m. ICING: Good ice above 600m. COMMENT: Winds easing overnight and during Saturday. GLENCOE AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS FRI 12/3/04 Cold conditions are maintaining good general stability of much of the snowpack. Very strong South-Easterly winds and a light dusting of new snow have produced isolated accumulations of moderately to weakly bonded windslab on steep slopes in the most sheltered areas mainly above 950 metres. Greatest accumulations are forming in summit gullies and on slopes with a West to Northerly aspect. These areas are generally avoidable. The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SAT 13/3/04 The cold South-Easterly airstream will continue to affect the area becoming Southerly during Saturday. The old snowpack where exposed will remain firm and will be stable. Snow showers will fall overnight largely dying out by morning. Weakly bonded windslab will accumulate in sheltered gullies of many aspects and on slopes with a West through North to North-Easterly aspect mainly above 850 metres. Avalanches and cornice collapse are likely. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Mainly in sheltered high corries and gullies above 850 metres. ICING: Mainly above 500 metres COMMENT: Old snow hard and icy in places, crampons and axe essential. SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS FRI 12/3/04 Snow showers and strong winds from the SE continued to develop unstable areas of windslab on W through N to NE aspects above 850 metres. Some marginal improvement in stability was noted within these aspects but generally windslab was moderately to weakly bonded particularly where it overlies older snow in sheltered locations. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SAT 13/3/04 The winds and snow showers will ease overnight. Areas of windslab will remain moderately to weakly bonded on W through N to NE aspects above 850 metres. Greatest hazard will exist in steeper sheltered locations. Newly formed cornices will be suspect. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: W to N aspects have fresh drifted deposits. Many slopes are only thinly covered. ICING: Some good ice is present but many routes remain lean. COMMENT: Careful route selection required. CREAG MEAGAIDH AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS FRI 12/3/04 General snowpack stability has remained good with hard well bonded snow on most aspects. Light persistent snow showers on a gale force South-East wind have formed isolated and fresh moderately bonded windslab on West to North aspects above 850 metres. Accumulations vary in depth with deepest deposits found on scarp slopes below cornices, sheltered gullies and hollows of the above mentioned aspects. The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SAT 13/3/04 SnNORTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS FRI 12/3/04 The strongest winds of the season were recorded with a maximum of 132 mph from the South-East. The wind and moderate snow amounts have created extensive slab instability on Northerly aspects with new cornice development. The avalanche hazard is High (Category 4). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SAT 13/3/04 While the intensity of weather will ease overnight the stability of the snowpack will remain poor. Both hard and soft slab instability will exist on Northerly aspects. Although there has been slight warming the deep seated weakness due to continued cold mid-pack temperatures will persist on other aspects. Avalanches will occur, naturally and with low additional load, on all aspects above 750 metres. The avalanche hazard will be High (Category 4). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: There have been slow settlement rates of new snow and highly variable distribution in the very strong winds. ICING: No new data available. COMMENT: 24 hours after a storm event is usually considered a minimum to allow storm instability to ease. LOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS FRI 12/3/04 Gale force SE winds are continuing to form fresh areas of moderately to poorly bonded windslab in sheltered locations. This windslab is localised in distribution and generally confined to sheltered West, North-West and North aspects above 1000m. Some small accumulations also exist on North-East and East aspects. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). In other locations, the snowpack is generally stable. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SAT 13/3/04 SE winds will ease overnight with light snowfall. Localised areas of unstable windslab will be present in areas sheltered from the SE winds. Greatest accumulations will be on sheltered West, North-West and North aspects above 1000m. Localised accumulations will also be present on North-East and East aspects. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Main accumulations remain in high N and E facing corries. A very light dusting of fresh snow above 550m. ICING: Good ice above 600m. COMMENT: Winds easing overnight and during Saturday. GLENCOE AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS FRI 12/3/04 Cold conditions are maintaining good general stability of much of the snowpack. Very strong South-Easterly winds and a light dusting of new snow have produced isolated accumulations of moderately to weakly bonded windslab on steep slopes in the most sheltered areas mainly above 950 metres. Greatest accumulations are forming in summit gullies and on slopes with a West to Northerly aspect. These areas are generally avoidable. The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SAT 13/3/04 The cold South-Easterly airstream will continue to affect the area becoming Southerly during Saturday. The old snowpack where exposed will remain firm and will be stable. Snow showers will fall overnight largely dying out by morning. Weakly bonded windslab will accumulate in sheltered gullies of many aspects and on slopes with a West through North to North-Easterly aspect mainly above 850 metres. Avalanches and cornice collapse are likely. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Mainly in sheltered high corries and gullies above 850 metres. ICING: Mainly above 500 metres COMMENT: Old snow hard and icy in places, crampons and axe essential. SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS FRI 12/3/04 Snow showers and strong winds from the SE continued to develop unstable areas of windslab on W through N to NE aspects above 850 metres. Some marginal improvement in stability was noted within these aspects but generally windslab was moderately to weakly bonded particularly where it overlies older snow in sheltered locations. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SAT 13/3/04 The winds and snow showers will ease overnight. Areas of windslab will remain moderately to weakly bonded on W through N to NE aspects above 850 metres. Greatest hazard will exist in steeper sheltered locations. Newly formed cornices will be suspect. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: W to N aspects have fresh drifted deposits. Many slopes are only thinly covered. ICING: Some good ice is present but many routes remain lean. COMMENT: Careful route selection required. CREAG MEAGAIDH AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS FRI 12/3/04 General snowpack stability has remained good with hard well bonded snow on most aspects. Light persistent snow showers on a gale force South-East wind have formed isolated and fresh moderately bonded windslab on West to North aspects above 850 metres. Accumulations vary in depth with deepest deposits found on scarp slopes below cornices, sheltered gullies and hollows of the above mentioned aspects. The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SAT 13/3/04 Snow showers on a strong South-East becoming South wind will ease through the day. Fresh unstable windslab deposits will continue to form on West through North to North-East aspects above 850 metres. Depths will vary with scarp slopes below cornices, sheltered gullies and hollows holding deepest accumulations. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). Weak cornice fringes will continue to form above steep sheltered slopes. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: High corries and plateau have reasonable cover, sparse elsewhere. ICING: Reasonable to good ice on many classic routes. COMMENT: Cautious route planning advised on steep ground. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------