NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SUN 9/1/05 A slow thaw has set in at all but the highest levels due to light rain and strong South-Westerly winds. Weaknesses still remain in the snowpack. The areas affected are mainly on North-West through North to South-East aspects above 800 metres where deep accumulations lie. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK MON 10/1/05 The thaw will continue due to rising temperatures and heavy rain on strong South-Westerly winds. Due to this there will be a period of increased instability during the night. Avalanches are likely mainly on steep North-West through North to South-East aspects above 950 metres. Temperatures will fall by the afternoon with snow showers forming new accumulations on these aspects. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Snow at all levels with deep drifts on lee slopes. ICING: None visible. COMMENT: Yet another unsettled weather prospect. LOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SUN 9/1/05 A warm South-West airflow with rising temperatures have resulted in wet snow instabilities mainly on steep North-East, East and South-East aspects above 900m.The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK MON 10/1/05 Strong South-West winds and heavy rain at all levels overnight will turn wintry on Monday afternoon. The snowpack will generally consolidate at all levels and stability will improve. The wet snow hazard will generally be restricted to steep North-East, East and South-East aspects above 1000m. The avalanche hazard will be Moderate (Category 2). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Wet snow at all levels. ICING: Freezing levels above the summits. Temperatures expected to fall on Monday afternoon. COMMENT: Remaining windy. GLENCOE AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SUN 9/1/05 Milder conditions and increasing rain today are affecting the area. Wet snow instabilities are evident on steep slopes with a North to South-East aspect and in sheltered summit gullies mainly above 900 metres. Avalanche debris noted on a North- Easterly aspect on Creise today. Avalanche hazard High (Category 4). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK MON 10/1/05 Precipitation will fall as rain heavy at first becoming showery overnight. Colder conditions later on Monday will give snow showers above 800 metres. The existing snowpack will initially be wet with instabilities remaining on the steepest slopes and gullies but will become more stable as cooler drier conditions return. Snow showers later will form unstable windslab on slopes with a North to Easterly aspect and in sheltered summit gullies. Bonding will be poor particularly where older snow underlies. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3) CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Snow above 700 metres ICING: Becoming cooler on Monday COMMENT: Conditions will hopefully improve with the return to cooler weather. Windslab will require caution. SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SUN 9/1/05 Moderately to weakly bonded windslab exists in sheltered locations on NE to SE aspects above 900 metres. Deposits are locally deep and unstable. Thaw conditions have yet to become established at higher elevations and the deeper drifts contain multiple layers of dry snow that shear easily. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK MON 10/1/05 There will be a period of increased instability overnight as thaw conditions become established with the freezing level rising to 2500 metres and heavy rain forecast. Avalanches are likely in steeper, sheltered locations on NE to SE aspects above 900 metres. Precipitation will turn wintry in the afternoon as the freezing level lowers. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: A light general covering with deeper drifts on sheltered N to E facing slopes. ICING: Very mild overnight but colder conditions will return during Monday afternoon. COMMENT: Superficial cover will be reduced but deeper drifts should survive this thaw. CREAG MEAGAIDH AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SUN 9/1/05 A milder Westerly front with light rain showers is slowly consolidating recent windslab deposits on North through East to South aspects above 750 metres. The snowpack has a soft damp 20cm surface layer with sub-surface, dry weaker layers still persisting in deeper deposits. Convex and extreme slopes are suspect in present conditions. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). Freshly formed cornices particularly on Easterly aspects remain prone to collapse in mild, damp temperatures. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK MON 10/1/05 Gale force South-West winds and heavy rain overnight will develop wet snow instabilities on North through East to South aspects above 750 metres and here avalanches will occur. The avalanche hazard will be High (Category 4). Wet snow instabilities will continue to persist through the day in remaining deep snow deposits on steep extreme slopes. Some consolidation is expected later in the day as freezing levels once again begin to drop to 900 metres. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Deep slush below 500 metres, thigh deep porridge above. ICING: Remaining poor or buried. COMMENT: Blizzards..rain..blizzards..rain..blizzards.. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------