NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SUN 6/3/05 It has been mainly dry with occasional light snow showers above 1100 metres on moderate North- West winds. Easterly through to South-West aspects above 900 metres remain reasonably well bonded, but weaknesses still exist in the snowpack. Pockets of new windslab have also affected sheltered locations in these areas. Localised instabilities on crag aprons and sheltered gullies remain on Northerly aspects. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK MON 7/3/05 It will be mainly dry with very light snow showers on moderate Northerly winds. Pockets of windslab will continue to build on Southerly aspects. Weaknesses in the snowpack will remain on Easterly through to South-West aspects above 900 metres. Localised instabilities will affect crag aprons and sheltered gully exits on North facing slopes. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Consolidation on plateau has improved walking conditions. ICING: Lots of clearing still needed on buttresses. COMMENT: Plenty of unconsolidated snow remaining on Northerly aspects. LOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SUN 6/3/05 Saturday night and Sunday have remained dry with only light winds. The snowpack is moderately well bonded in many areas, but localised areas of weakly bonded snow still exist on steep slopes with an East through to South-West aspect above 900m. In these areas the avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK MON 7/3/05 High pressure will bring mainly settled conditions to Scotland overnight and during Monday. Winds are expected to be moderate in strength, but some transport of snow is still possible. Windslab formation will be localised and form in sheltered locations, with accumulations on steep slopes with a South-East through to South-West aspect. In these areas the avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Good snow cover above 800m. ICING: Freezing level 550m, rising to 800m during Monday. COMMENT: Climbing and skiing conditions generally good. GLENCOE AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SUN 6/3/05 Light accumulations of recent snow exist above 800m. The Northerly winds have continued to scour many exposed slopes forming isolated areas of 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 Moderate (Category 2) where deeper accumulations of windslab exist. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK MON 7/3/05 Cold and mainly dry settled conditions through the period will maintain much of the snowpack in a stable condition. Some instabilities will remain on steeper slopes where deeper accumulations of windslab exist. These isolated 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 800m in Northerly and Easterly corries. ICING freezing level overnight 550m rising to 800 metres during Monday. COMMENT: High pressure will bring settled conditions with a slight chance of the odd snow flurry with fresh Northerly winds. SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SUN 6/3/05 Moderately to weakly bonded windslab is present on E through S to W aspects above 600 metres. Greatest hazard is to be found in steeper sheltered locations on SE to SW aspects. Deposits remain cold, dry and layered with deep-seated weakness still present. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). Soft cornices are present. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK MON 7/3/05 Recent deposits will continue to consolidate slowly. On E through S to W aspects above 600 metres shallow deposits will become moderately bonded. In steeper sheltered locations above 800 metres deeper snow will remain moderately to weakly bonded. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Snow from valley level with the best cover of the winter. ICING: Freezing level rising to 700 metres on Monday. COMMENT: Take care! Four sets of ski tracks seen at the start zone of one of yesterday's avalanches. CREAG MEAGAIDH AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SUN 6/3/05 It has been dry and cold overnight and during the day. Fresh North Westerly winds have re-deposited snow as the day progressed resulting in steady windslab development on East through to South facing slopes. Upper slopes on the `Post Face' have been cross loaded throughout the day and East through to South slopes in the Inner Coire are overhung with large cornices. Cornice debris was noted from overnight events on South-East aspects. Stability is poor on uppermost slopes where field tests showed easy shears in re-deposited surface layers. The Avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK MON 7/3/05 Isolated snow flurries overnight and on Monday accompanied by fresh North-Westerly winds will result in further windslab development. This will add additional loading to steep East to South facing slopes above 850 metres where avalanches will occur. Unstable cornices will continue to remain an issue in these locations. The avalanche hazard will be High (Category 4). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: General cover of snow above 600m. ICING: Ice around although quality is variable and becoming buried in gully locations. COMMENT: Careful route choice required with many upper exit slopes in poor condition. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------