NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS MON 7/3/05 A moist day has affected the snowpack on all aspects up to 1000 metres. Moisture has penetrated the snowpack and is helping with snowpack settlement and stabilisation in most areas. Where instabilies exist in the snowpack especially on recently formed windslab areas on Easterly through to South-West aspects above 900 metres the snowpack is continuing to weaken. Cornices on most aspects will be unstable. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK TUE 8/3/05 The freezing level will be at approximately 700 metres and the wind will come from a Northerly direction. Moist conditions will continue and further settlement will take place in the snowpack which will have a stabilising effect on most areas below 1000 metres. However above 900 metres on East through to South-West aspects where instabilities exist the snowpack will become weaker. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Deep moist snow makes for difficult going. ICING: Some rime ice is falling and the crags are dripping !! COMMENT: A thaw will do some good. LOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS MON 7/3/05 Sunday night and Monday have remained mostly dry with light winds. The slightly higher temperatures have started to consolidate the snowpack, which is moderately bonded in many areas. Moderate to weakly bonded snow exists in localised areas on some crag aprons and gully exits above 900m. The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK TUE 8/3/05 Settled conditions are expected to remain over Scotland on Monday night and on Tuesday. Only isolated snow flurries are expected, with a moderate Northerly wind. Any windslab formation will be localised and form mostly on steep sheltered slopes with a South-East to South-West aspect. The avalanche hazard will be Moderate (Category 2). Should the temperature rise more than expected, cornice collapse is a possibility in some areas. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Good snow cover above 800m. ICING: Ice forming in many locations. Freezing level 800m. COMMENT: Climbing conditions generally good. GLENCOE AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS MON 7/3/05 Milder conditions have started to consolidate surface layers. The Northerly winds have continued to scour many exposed slopes forming isolated areas windslab in sheltered locations. The greatest accumulations are in sheltered hollows and scarp slopes with an East to South aspect above 900 metres, especially in sheltered summit gullies. The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK TUE 8/3/05 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 800 metres. COMMENT: High pressure will bring settled conditions will a slight chance of the odd snow flurry with fresh Northerly winds. SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS MON 7/3/05 On E through S to W aspects the majority of recent deposits are now moderately bonded. Solar warming is creating some surface instability on the steepest slopes and soft cornice edges are dropping on to the slopes beneath. Localised areas of moderately to weakly bonded snow can be found in steeper sheltered locations on these aspects above 900 metres. These isolated deposits tend to be in shady areas such as gullies and steep sided burns. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK TUE 8/3/05 Sun warmed slopes should re-freeze overnight leaving most areas well bonded. Steeper sheltered locations on E through S to W aspects above 900 metres will hold moderately bonded deposits. Surface instability will be present on the steepest slopes if there is a repeat of Monday's sun warming. The avalanche hazard will be Moderate (Category 2). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Thawing at lower levels but cover is good higher up. ICING: Continuing cold with a 650 metre freezing level. COMMENT: Isolated snow flurry forecast. CREAG MEAGAIDH AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS MON 7/3/05 It has been mostly dry with only a few isolated showers throughout the day. There has been some consolidation of the snowpack below 850 metres although moderate shears in sub- surface layers were still found where tested. The stability of uppermost slopes, particularly above the Post Face remains suspect with recent windslab loading on to East through to South facing aspects. The avalanche hazard is High (Category 4). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK TUE 8/3/05 It will remain mostly dry with freezing levels staying below the summits at around 500 metres. The settled conditions will bring some further consolidation of the snowpack. Concerns remain regarding recently loaded East to South facing slopes above 850 metres where the stability is still marginal, particularly where slopes are overhung by large cornices. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: General cover of snow above 600m. ICING: Good ice on some steeper classics. Many of the gully lines in less good condition. COMMENT: Upper exit slopes on Post Face still not great - care needed with route choice. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------