NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS THU 10/2/05 The snowpack on North and North-East aspects has become more stable due to the re-freezing process which has occurred at all levels overnight and during the day, but weak layers still remain at depth in the snow pack above altitudes of 1100 metres. In the course of the day Westerly winds have transported new snow on to Easterly aspects above 600 metres: here the accumulations are weakly bonded. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK FRI 11/2/05 Moderate snowfall is expected overnight with strong Westerly winds which will become South- Westerly. Snow will continue to accumulate on North-East and Easterly aspects above 600 metres where weakly bonded windslab snow will build. From midday the freezing level will rise from 600 metres to 1300 metres at midnight. The rise in temperature will weaken the snowpack stability and avalanches will occur on mainly Northerly to Easterly aspects above 600 metres. The avalanche hazard will be High (Category 4). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Mainly firm underfoot on re-frozen snowpack but hard going on E aspects. ICING: Wet snow has firmed up on buttresses. COMMENT: Rise in temperaturess will make cornices unstable. LOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS THU 10/2/05 Localised areas of windslab have formed in sheltered areas and at the tops of North-East, East and South-East facing slopes and gullies above 900m. Wind blown snow and graupel have collected in places on an icy crust. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK FRI 11/2/05 Westerly winds will bring light snow showers overnight, with heavier snowfall on Friday. Areas of windslab will form with greatest accumulations on scarp slopes and gully exits on North- East, East and South-East aspects. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Some new snow with most in East facing corries. ICING: Cold overnight, with temperatures slowly rising during Friday. COMMENT: Ice slowly starting to form again. GLENCOE AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS THU 10/2/05 Colder conditions today have improved the stability of much of the older snowpack. Strong Westerly winds and snow showers have formed fresh accumulations of windslab in the most sheltered of areas. These accumulations are mainly around the tops of North-East to South-Easterly scarp slopes and sheltered gullies. Stability is moderate to poor where windslab lies on steep slopes where the avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3) AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK FRI 11/2/05 Windslab will continue to form on sheltered slopes as new snow and Westerly winds affect the area for much of Friday. Greatest accumulations will form on North to South-Easterly slopes and in sheltered gullies mainly above 850 metres. Stability of these accumulations will be poor where they form on steep slopes or where older snow ice underlies. Avalanches are likely in these areas. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Snow above 500 metres, new snow has been scoured by strong winds on to Easterly aspects ICING: Cold overnight becoming milder through Friday. COMMENT: Outlook is for rapid thaw with heavy rain later on Friday night. SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS THU 10/2/05 It has remained cold with snow falling in strong winds. Above 900 metres recent wet surface layers have re-frozen generally improving stability. But there are areas of deep drifted snow in very sheltered locations on N through E to SE aspects. These multi-layered dry accumulations have poor stability. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). Cornices continue to form. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK FRI 11/2/05 There will be further snowfall but the winds will ease. On N through E to SE aspects above 900 metres unstable accumulations will be found on steeper sheltered features and avalanches are likely. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). The freezing level will rise to above the summits by nightfall. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION. Continues to improve above 900 metres with drifts or breakable crust. ICING: A poor day for any observation but icy underfoot. COMMENT: Thaw conditions are expected in the area by Friday evening. CREAG MEAGAIDH AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS THU 10/2/05 Strong Westerly winds fed in heavy and persistent snow showers throughout Thursday. Weakly-stabilised windslab lies on all steep North-East to South-East aspects above 850 metres where stability is poor. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK FRI 11/2/05 Further snow showers on West-South-West winds on Friday will be followed by heavy rain and a rapid thaw. This will lead to very poor stability on North-East to South-East facing slopes and gullies. Avalanches will occur in these locations with the onset of rain. The avalanche hazard will be High (Category 4). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: New covering of fresh snow at all levels on Thursday. More extensive cover above 600m. ICING: Hard to say as snow obscures crags, but likely to deteriorate as thaw conditions kick in. COMMENT: Very wintry on Thursday but possibly shortlived. Rain likely around midday -------------------------------------------------------------------------------