NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS MON 3/1/05 There have been strong Westerly winds with rain at all levels. The snow has thawed on the surface, but below this the snowpack is cold and dry with deep accumulations remaining on North-East through East to Southerly aspects above 900 metres. Weakly bonded layers were observed in these areas. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK TUE 4/1/05 The thaw will continue overnight due to mild wet windy conditions on strong South-West winds. During the day temperatures will fall sharply and rain will turn to snow. Avalanches are likely due to existing wet surface layers with moderate to weakly bonded layers beneath. New accumulations will form in sheltered locations. The areas affected will be mainly North-East through East to Southerly aspects above 900 metres. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Very patchy again with some deep accumulations ICING: Still looking thin but the thaw-freeze cycle will improve conditions. COMMENT: Cooler temperatures are expected. LOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS MON 3/1/05 Rain at all levels has become established during the morning. The snowpack is now gradually thawing at all levels, with more significant snow loss at lower elevations. Significant wet snow instabilities are present, mainly on steep North-East, East and South-East aspects above 1000m. The avalanche hazard is High (Category 4). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK TUE 4/1/05 Rain at all levels will turn to snow showers during Tuesday. The existing wet snowpack will gradually cool and stabilise. Fresh areas of unstable snow will form with the strong SW to W winds during Tuesday. This unstable snow will mainly be at the tops of North-East and East facing slopes and gullies above 1000m. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Wet snowpack at all levels. ICING: Freezing level lowering again during Tuesday. COMMENT: Winds moderating to gale-force on Tuesday! GLENCOE AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS MON 3/1/05 Thaw conditions with rain at all levels have saturated the snowpack. Wet snow instabilities exist on all steep slopes on all aspects above 850m. Areas with the greatest hazard are gullies and slopes with a North-East to Southerly aspect mainly above 850 metres, these being the slopes with the greatest accumulations of snow. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK TUE 4/1/05 Overnight strong SW winds and heavy rain will maintain the wet snowpack, but on Tuesday morning rain will turn to snow above 400m with SW to W gale force winds. This will consolidate the wet snow: however new areas of windslab will form in sheltered locations. Areas most affected will be gullies and slopes with a North-East to South-Easterly aspect mainly above 850 metres. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Snow above 800m. ICING: Freezing levels well above summits on Monday, becoming colder on Tuesday. COMMENT: New snow but very windy. SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS MON 3/1/05 Thaw conditions have become established, significantly reducing the snow cover. Shallow deposits are moist but deeper accumulations contain moderately to weakly bonded drier snow. Unstable windslab is to be found on mainly NE to SE aspects above 900 metres. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK TUE 4/1/05 The snow will continue to thaw overnight before there is a return to cooler conditions on Tuesday. In the deeper deposits that exist on steeper ground on NE to SE aspects above 900 metres, the snow will be moderately bonded. Gradually, wet surface layers will begin to re-freeze. Occasional snow showers will start to form fresh deposits on NE to SE aspects. The avalanche hazard will be Moderate (Category 2). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Thawing at all levels. Best cover on NE to SE aspects. ICING: Ice is present but quantity and quality are highly variable. COMMENT: Lochnagar's main gullies are starting to fill in. The Red Spout area remains very thin CREAG MEAGAIDH AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS MON 3/1/05 The mild and wet conditions (and we mean wet!) have resulted in a much depleted and satuarated snow pack. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK TUE 4/1/05 The mild and wet conditions will continue overnight before giving way to cooler weather with snow showers, on exceptionally strong South-West to West winds late on Tuesday. This will maintain the current poor stability of saturated deposits. Avalanches are likely on steepest North-East to South- East aspects above 800 metres, particularly on slopes overhung by any remaining cornices. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Patches remaining above 700 metres. ICING: Remaining poor. COMMENT: There ya go. Fill your boots! ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS MON 3/1/05 There have been strong Westerly winds with rain at all levels. The snow has thawed on the surface, but below this the snowpack is cold and dry with deep accumulations remaining on North-East through East to Southerly aspects above 900 metres. Weakly bonded layers were observed in these areas. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK TUE 4/1/05 The thaw will continue overnight due to mild wet windy conditions on strong South-West winds. During the day temperatures will fall sharply and rain will turn to snow. Avalanches are likely due to existing wet surface layers with moderate to weakly bonded layers beneath. New accumulations will form in sheltered locations. The areas affected will be mainly North-East through East to Southerly aspects above 900 metres. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Very patchy again with some deep accumulations ICING: Still looking thin but the thaw-freeze cycle will improve conditions. COMMENT: Cooler temperatures are expected. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------