NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SAT 5/3/05 Snow showers on strong North-Westerly winds have affected the area. Windslab has continued to build mainly on Easterly to Southerly aspects above 850 metres. Poor visibility restricted observations but tests showed some weaknesses in the snowpack at 950 metres on an East facing slope. Weakly bonded windslab was also noted on Northerly aspects below crag aprons. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SUN 6/3/05 It will be a fine dry day with moderate North-Westerly winds. The snowpack will begin to consolidate with some weaknesses remaining on steep North-East through East to South-West aspects above 850 metres. Crag aprons and gully exits will also be affected on North facing slopes. Cornices on Southerly aspects will be prone to collapse due to sun warming. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Deep drifts with good cover at all levels. ICING: Freezing level rising to 550m COMMENT: High pressure moving in. LOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SAT 5/3/05 A Northerly wind has formed localised areas of unstable windslab, with greatest accumulations on South-East, South and South-West aspects above 900m. Some older instabilities still exist on North-East through to South facing scarp slopes and crag aprons. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). Stability on wind scoured slopes is generally good. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SUN 6/3/05 A ridge of high pressure is expected to bring more settled conditions with lighter North or North-Westerly winds. Existing instabilities in the snowpack will remain on East through to South-West aspects above 900m. Low overnight temperatures will not assist the consolidation of the snowpack. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). Stability on wind scoured slopes will remain good. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Good snow cover above 800m. ICING: Freezing level around 250m overnight rising to 650m on Sunday. COMMENT: The outlook for next week is slightly warmer but settled. GLENCOE AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SAT 5/3/05 Light accumulations of recent snow exist above 800m. The strong Northerly winds have continued to scour many exposed slopes forming windslab in sheltered locations. The greatest accumulations are in sheltered hollows and scarp slopes with an East to South aspect above 900 metres. Windslab is present in other sheltered locations especially in sheltered summit gullies. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SUN 6/3/05 Cold, dry and settled conditions through the period will maintain much of the snowpack in a stable condition. Instabilities will remain on steeper slopes where deeper accumulations of windslab exist. These accumulations will mainly be on East to South slopes and also in sheltered summit gullies above 900 metres. The avalanche hazard will be Moderate (Category 2) but bonding of the deepest accumulations may deteriorate later in day with the effects of strong solar warming. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Snow above 600 metres with best cover above 750m in Northerly and Easterly corries ICING: Freezing all levels overnight rising to 600 metres on Sunday. COMMENT: Outlook promising for Sunday with good sunny periods and fresh North-Westerly winds. SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SAT 5/3/05 Moderately to weakly bonded windslab is present on SE through S to W aspects above 600 metres. Frequent snow showers and heavy drifting are forming fresh windslab in very sheltered locations on SE to SW aspects. These rapidly forming deposits are unstable. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SUN 6/3/05 It will be a cold but dry day with lighter winds forecast. Moderately to weakly bonded windslab will be present on SE through S to W aspects above 600 metres. Greatest hazard will be found in steeper sheltered locations on SE to SW aspects where recent drifted deposits will be present. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Snow from valley level but some stripping of exposed areas has occurred today. ICING: Continuing cold. S aspects remain snowy. COMMENT: Potential for a pleasant day tomorrow. CREAG MEAGAIDH AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SAT 5/3/05 Snow showers overnight and during Saturday have resulted in some additional accumulations of weakly bonded windslab on sheltered steep East to South-facing slopes and gullies above 750 metres. Stability is marginal particularly on uppermost slopes where field tests showed easy shears in sub-surface layers. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SUN 6/3/05 An area of high pressure will result in dry settled conditions overnight and on Sunday. There will be some consolidation of recent windslab deposits, although on steep South-East to South facing slopes at higher altitudes above 850 metres stability will remain marginal. Unstable cornices will continue to remain an issue in these locations. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: General cover of snow above 600m. ICING: Freezing levels rising slightly from 250m overnight to 600m on Sunday. COMMENT: Could be a day for shades and sun hats. No promises! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------