NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS
AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SAT 5/2/05
Snow has fallen at all levels fairly continuously overnight and
during the day.  Light winds have led to little drifting, with an
overall new accumulation of around 8 centimetres above 900
metres.  Where old snow cover underlies, this is firm and
re-frozen.  The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2).

AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SUN 6/2/05
Continuing overnight snowfall will ease off during the day.
Moderate North-Westerly winds will lead to some drifting, with
main new accumulations on East and South aspects above 800
metres.  Some gully heads and steep open slopes on North-West to
North-East aspects will also be affected.  The avalanche hazard
will be Considerable (Category 3).

CLIMBING CONDITIONS 

SNOW DISTRIBUTION: New snow at all levels, with old snow remnants
in gullies and on corrie headwalls underlying.
ICING: Improving while cold conditions last.
COMMENT: A welcome return to winter yet again.




LOCHABER
AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SAT 5/2/05
Snow showers and North-West winds have formed localised areas of
weakly bonded soft slab. These areas are most common at the tops
of East, South-East and South facing scarp slopes and gullies.
The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3).

AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SUN 6/2/05  
Snow showers and moderate North-East winds during Saturday night
and Sunday are unlikely to stabilise the weak bonds in the
snowpack. There may be some scouring of slopes with a North- East
aspect, but more slab will form on steep South-East, South and
South-West slopes. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable
(Category 3).


CLIMBING CONDITIONS 

SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Snow falling to 700m.
ICING: Freezing level down to 500m.
COMMENT: Remaining cold.
 


GLENCOE
AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SAT 5/2/05
Light accumulations of new snow exist above 650m. The colder
conditions have stabilised the older wet snowpack. The new
deposits of snow are not significant the snowpack stability is
generally still good. However on the steepest slopes some shallow
surface instabilities exist. The avalanche hazard in these areas
is Low (Category 1).

AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SUN 6/2/05
Light snow showers and fresh NE winds will affect the area 
during Saturday night and during Sunday. Shallow deposits of 
windslab will form above 800m on S to SW aspects and in 
sheltered hollows and gullies. Where these conditions exist 
especially on steep slopes and around the tops of sheltered 
gullies the avalanche hazard will increase to Moderate (Category 
2).

CLIMBING CONDITIONS 

SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Greatest accumulations of snow are in
the higher Northern and Eastern corries with light snow forecast 
above 600m during the period.
ICING: Freezing level expected to be around 650m.
COMMENT: Becoming colder: the new snow will continue
help improve climbing conditions.


SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS
AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SAT 5/2/05
There has been a very light covering of new snow from around 700
metres. Greatest amounts are still to be found on the Cairngorm
Plateau and on NE to SE facing slopes above 950 metres. New
snowfall did not alter the avalanche hazard which remains Low
(Category 1).

AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SUN 6/2/05
There will be some snow showers which will give a light covering
from around 650 metres. In a few isolated locations where new
snow achieves sufficient depth and overlies older snow-ice on
steeper slopes, deposits will be moderately bonded. The avalanche
hazard will be Moderate (Category 2).

CLIMBING CONDITIONS 

SNOW DISTRIBUTION: A light covering from 700 metres 
with older snow-ice restricted to high plateau areas and NE to 
SE aspects above 950 metres.
ICING: Nothing significant noted but it is freezing. 
COMMENT: Some snow showers expected. 


CREAG MEAGAIDH
AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SAT 5/2/05
A dusting of fresh snow has been deposited above 650 metres. This
has resulted in only a very modest build of  new windslab. On a
steep sheltered East facing slope at 800 metres field tests
revealed some instabilities of these most recent deposits. The
avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2).

AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SUN 6/2/05
Further snow overnight and on Sunday accompanied by moderate
North-East winds will result in accumulations of windslab on
sheltered South to East aspects above 800 metres. In steepest
locations where these deposits overlie old, new snow
instabilities will persist. The avalanche hazard will be
Considerate (Category 3).

CLIMBING CONDITIONS 

SNOW DISTRIBUTION: A light cover above 650 metres on 
Saturday. 
ICING: Colder conditions but sparse build up.
COMMENT: Wintry but more needed.




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