NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS MON 28/2/05 Light North-Westerly winds with some snow have affected the area and a freezing level of 500m has provided relatively warmer temperatures. The snowpack is generally stabilising but weaknesses remain at depth on Westerly aspects above 1000 metres. Here a weak layer of facets is present due to the strong temperature gradients that has been observed in the snowpack during recent days. Isolated instabilities are also present on East to South-Easterly aspects above 900 metres. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK TUE 1/3/05 The overnight North-West to North-Easterly winds will bring moderate snowfall above 150 metres. Light snow showers with winds from the North-East will continue for most of the day. Accumulations will build on the weakly bonded existing snowpack on mainly South-East to South-Westerly aspects above 900 metres where avalanches are likely. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Cover gives hard going. ICING: Ice on buttresses but lots of digging required too! COMMENT: Good climbing to be had if you can find the starts in the whiteout.!! LOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS MON 28/2/05 No significant new snow arrived on Sunday night or during Monday morning. As a result there are no new accumulations of windslab. Older moderately bonded snow still exists in localised areas mostly on South-West, West and North- West aspects above 800m.The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK TUE 1/3/05 A depression moving South across Scotland will give snow overnight with a few wintry showers during Tuesday. Light variable winds will increase slightly from the North-East during Tuesday. Windslab will be deposited in sheltered locations with greatest accumulations on slopes with a South, South-West and West aspect. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Snow remaining above 500m. ICING: Freezing level around 300m on Tuesday. COMMENT: Remaining cold. GLENCOE AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS MON 28/2/05 Very light accumulations of fresh snow exist above 700m: these new deposits are not very significant. The greatest accumulations are in sheltered hollows and gullies with a NE to SE aspect. Isolated areas of old layered windslab are still present in sheltered locations on S to W aspects but also in all sheltered gullies above 800m. Some loose snow instability exists on steep scarp slopes and in sheltered gully exits. The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK TUE 1/3/05 Above 250m heavy snow showers and variable Northerly winds during Monday night will affect the area. These snow showers will become less frequent during Tuesday. Accumulations of windslab will form on SE through to SW aspects in sheltered locations mainly above 800m. The new accumulations of windslab will be moderately bonded especially on steep scarp slopes and gully exits. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Snow above 500 metres with best cover above 700m. ICING: Freezing level 300m. COMMENT: Forecast for heavy snow during Monday night clearing around 0900hrs Tuesday morning. SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS MON 28/2/05 It has been snowing steadily but lightly throughout the day and although this had not added much depth to the snowpack it has left a layer of unstable snow on the surface of the snowpack. Moderately bonded layers persist in deeper deposits on steeper terrain on SE through S to W aspects above 1000 metres. The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK TUE 1/3/05 Moderate amounts of snow will fall overnight adding to the already unstable surface layers on many E to S aspects above 700 metres. Where significant new deposits settle over recent accumulations stability will be poor. Moderately bonded accumulations will still exist in steeper sheltered locations on SE through S to W aspects. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: The best cover is to be found on the high plateau areas but most hills have some snow. ICING: Watercourses continue to be the best option although many rocks have iced over. COMMENT: Snow expected mostly overnight. CREAG MEAGAIDH AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS MON 28/2/05 Recent snow showers on West or North-West winds have combined to create accumulations of multi-layered windslab on steep North-East to South-facing scarp slopes and gully heads. Deepest deposits lie on very steep ground above 950 metres where field tests showed poor bonding between layers. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK TUE 1/3/05 A period of heavier snowfall overnight, on light North to North- East winds, will die out and become showery during Tuesday. New, marginally-stabilised soft windslab build up will occur on steep, sheltered South to West aspects above 850 metres. Cold temperatures will maintain poor bonds in near-surface layers on East to South-facing scarp slopes and gully heads above 950 metres. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: A covering of fresh snow above 500m. Crusty or hard and icy in many wind exposed locations. ICING: Freezing level at 250m overnight and 350m on Tuesday. COMMENT: Very poor visibility at higher elevations on Monday. Creag Meagaidh very quiet. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------