NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS WED 14/4/04 Full spring conditions prevail with temperatures well above freezing at 1245 metres and moderate Westerly winds. Some rain has further soaked the upper pack. The snowpack is mostly coarse grained and well bonded. The stability is fair to good. The avalanche hazard is Low (Category 1) AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK THU 15/4/04 Mainly rain is forecast, probably heavy amounts, with the possibility of a brief period of snow. Although free water will continue to occur at the ground under the snowpack, stability during this forecast period will be good. The avalanche hazard is Low (Category 1). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Slush surface under a firm base where it exists. ICING: Please stay tuned for next winter, have a safe summer. COMMENT: Still a longer term potential for spring avalanche activity; deep releases on rock slab or minor surface sluffing. LOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS WED 14/4/04 Rain at all levels is continuing to deplete the snowpack. Wet snow instabilities are present on many steep slopes above 1000m. The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK THU 15/4/04 Heavy rain will continue for the next 24 hours. The snowpack will continue to thaw at all levels. Wet snow instabilities will be present on steep slopes above 1000m. The avalanche hazard will be Moderate (Category 2). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Wet snow at all levels. General snow line rising to above 1000m. ICING: Freezing level remaining above the summits. COMMENT: Hazard of falling ice and rocks on steep ground. GLENCOE AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS WED 14/4/04 Fairly continuous moderate to heavy rain has reduced the snowcover, which now is mainly to be found in the highest sheltered corries and gullies. The snowpack is soft and moist at all levels and stability is generally good on all but the very steepest of slopes where some wet snow instabilities still remain. The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK THU 15/4/04 Slightly cooler conditions with heavy rain and sleet for a short time on Thursday will affect the area. The snowpack will generally remain soft and moist with stability good in most areas but some wet snow instabilities will exist on the steepest slopes. Areas most affected will be around the tops of summit gullies and the steepest scarp slopes mainly above 1000 metres. The avalanche hazard will be Moderate (Category 2). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Greatest cover remains in the highest North and East facing corries and gullies. ICING: Freezing level 1200 metres Thursday. COMMENT: Last report for 2004 season. SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS WED 14/4/04 The remaining snow continues to slowly thaw with very limited patches now existing on the White Mounth. The Cairngorm Plateau and the steeper North and East facing corries hold reasonable Spring cover that is generally well bonded. The avalanche hazard is Low (Category 1). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK THU 15/4/04 The freezing level will lower to 1200 metres with further rain forecast. This could turn to snow on the highest summits but it is not expected to continue for a prolonged period. The remaining snow will be well bonded on all aspects. The avalanche hazard will be Low (Category 1). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: The Cairngorm Plateau has reasonable Spring cover. ICING: None observed. COMMENT: This is the last detailed area report for the season. Have a great Summer. CREAG MEAGAIDH AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS WED 14/4/04 It has been very mild and wet again. The snowpack is in full retreat in the sustained thaw but large accumulations of snow still exist on North-East to South-East aspects above 800 metres. Stability is good in many places but meltwater and rain continue to de-stabilise snowbeds that lie of steeply inclined rock slabs or very wet grass. Fresh debris from a full depth avalanche noted on a steep South-East aspect at 1000 metres on the Creag Mhor ridge above Coire Choille Rais. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK THU 15/4/04 The weather will be mild and wet for a time but turn colder with some snow possible on the highest tops on Thursday. Colder temperatures will help stabilise the old, thawing snowpack. Any additional snow will fall later in the day when some new, moderately stabilised humid windslab may form at the top of steep North to East-facing corrie headwalls and gully tops. The avalanche hazard will be Moderate (Category 2). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: New snow unlikely to amount to much. Larger old snow patches are present above 800 metres. ICING: Nil, and little improvement expected. COMMENT: This is the last report of the season. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------