NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS WED 2/3/05 Moderate North-East winds with snow have affected the mountains today. Accumulations of approx 30cm have occurred on most aspects above 600 metres. The new accumulations contain weak layers which have released easily during field tests. Unstable windslab is continuing to build on Southerly to Westerly aspects above 600 m. The avalanche hazard is High (Category 4). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK THU 3/3/05 Snowfall is to continue overnight carried by Northerly winds and during tomorrow with strengthening winds from the North-West. Windslab deposits will build on Easterly to Southerly aspects. Accumulations will continue on all aspects above 600 metres and the snowpack will be weakly bonded. Avalanches will occur on many slopes above 600 metres due to the weakly bonded snowpack. The avalanche hazard will be High. (Category 4). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Deep snow on all aspects ICING: Ice is there somewhere !! COMMENT: More snow expected. LOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS WED 2/3/05 Fresh snow has fallen overnight with a strengthening Easterly wind. Fresh localised areas of unstable windslab are forming on many sheltered slopes. Greatest accumulations are at the tops of sheltered South, South-West and West aspects above 1000m. Locally, other sheltered areas are also affected. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). Stability on wind scoured slopes is generally good. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK THU 3/3/05 A cold Northerly airflow overnight and on Thursday morning, will be replaced by warmer North-West winds and heavier snow showers later in the day. Areas of windslab will continue to build in sheltered locations, mostly as a result of wind transport of existing snow. Greatest accumulations will be on South, South-West and West aspects. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Snow remaining at most levels. ICING: Freezing level around 900m on Thursday. COMMENT: Climbing conditions generally good. GLENCOE AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS WED 2/3/05 Strong Northerly winds and new snow have affected the area. Windslab is present in many sheltered locations on SE through to W aspects but also in many sheltered gullies above 800m. Loose snow instability exists on steep scarp slopes and in sheltered gully exits. The avalanche hazard is Considerable Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK THU 3/3/05 The start of Thursday should be dry, cold and fine but further snow showers accompanied by strong NW winds will affect the area later in the day. Accumulations of windslab will continue to form on SE to SW aspects in sheltered locations mainly above 750m. The new accumulations of windslab and existing deposits 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 450 metres with best cover above 700m in Northerly corries. ICING: Freezing at all levels during Wednesday night but rising to around 900m on Thursday afternoon. COMMENT: Forecast is for more snow. Most higher gullies will have some weakly bonded snow deposits and caution is required. Buttresses and ridges the safer option. SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS WED 2/3/05 Overnight snow showers combined with fairly continuous snow this morning have given a good general cover with deeper drifts on SE through S to W aspects from 600 metres. These deep accumulations are poorly bonded and are failing under low additional load. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK THU 3/3/05 Moderately to weakly bonded windslab will be found on SE through S to W aspects above 600 metres. Later in the day snow showers and drifting of recent deposits will form fresh windslab on E to S aspects above 700 metres. These new accumulations will be unstable and avalanches are likely. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Cover from valley level. Deep drifts on South aspects. ICING: Continuing cold. Walk-ins and clearing will be hard work on some aspects. COMMENT: Strong front crawl action required on South aspects! Snowshoes would be handy. CREAG MEAGAIDH AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS WED 2/3/05 Cold temperatures, snow showers and moderate North-East winds resulted in the heavy drifting of snow on to steep South- East to West aspects down to 400 metres. Accumulations of new slab have also been cross-loaded into some North-facing gullies. Periods of sunshine have helped bring a little consolidation to slab deposits below 600 metres but above this altitude windslab is very poorly bonded. Weaknesses are quite deep and skis readily propagate long cracks and small slab releases on small convexities. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK THU 3/3/05 Winds will remain moderate but become Northerly then North- Westerly with additional heavier snowfall later on Thursday. Weakily-stabilised windslab will be present on all steep, sheltered North-East through South to West-facing slopes and gullies above 700 metres where avalanches are likely. The avalanche hazard will remain Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Good cover of cold snow at all levels. Skiing possible from Aberarder Farm today. ICING: Looking pretty buried at present. COMMENT: Special care required as conditions change in the second half of Thursday. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------