CREAG MEAGAIDH AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS THU 10/3/05 Strong Westerly winds and occasional light rain/sleet above 950 metres. Freeze/Thaw cycle continues to improve general snowpack consolidation on all aspects. The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). Cornices are suspect and prone to collapse in mild, damp conditions. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK FRI 11/3/05 Persistent heavy snow showers on gale force North-West winds are expected overnight and during the day. Windslab development will be rapid and become more widespread through the period. North through East to South aspects above 700 metres will be affected with deposits deepest in gullies, hollows and on steep scarp slopes. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). Unstable cornice development will begin especially above Easterly aspects. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Good general cover above 600 metres..about to improve ? ICING: Low and fragile formations have suffered in recent milder conditions. COMMENT: A return to Winter on Friday with 50 mph NW winds, heavy snow showers and freezing levels dropping to 350 metres. Take it easy out there! ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- LOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS THU 10/3/05 Small amounts of fresh snow arrived on Wednesday afternoon and evening. The snowpack is moderately well bonded in many areas, but small localised areas of poorly bonded windslab have been observed in some sheltered locations. These locations were near the tops of scarp slopes and gully exits with an East through to South aspect. The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK FRI 11/3/05 Snow showers, with strong North-Westerly winds are expected overnight and during Friday. This snowfall will form unstable windslab in sheltered locations, with greatest accumulations on scarp slopes and gully exits with an East through to South aspect above 900m. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). Fresh unstable cornices are likely to form. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Mostly good cover above 800m. Best cover in East facing corries. ICING: Freezing level falling from 500m to 300m on Friday. COMMENT: A cold wintry outlook is forecast. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS THU 10/3/05 Strong North-West winds with snow have accumulated unstable windslab on East to Southerly aspects above 900 metres. Slope tests on South-East aspects at 1070 metres altitude produced easy releases in weak layers. Below 900 metres the snow pack has settled further and continues to stabilise in the moist conditions. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK FRI 11/3/05 Snowfall is expected overnight with very strong West-North-Westerly winds, this will deposit significant accumulations of unstable windslab on North- East to Southerly aspects above 500 metres where avalanches are likely. During the day snowfall will continue on strong North-Westerly winds which will fall to 150 metres in altitude. Accumulations of weakly bonded windslab will continue to develop on North-East through East to South-Westerly aspects above 500 metres. The cross loading of windslab into lee areas and gully exits in North-West facing corries should be expected. The avalanche hazard will be be High (Category 4). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: New snow on an icy layer predominates - firmer walking conditions. ICING: Very good climbing to be had in the Corries COMMENT: Storms and lots of snow ahead ! ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS THU 10/3/05 Overnight snow showers and subsequent drifting have started to form windslab on E to S aspects above 800 metres. Amounts are slight below 950 metres but above this altitude some deeper patches have formed. The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK FRI 11/3/05 Snow on very strong winds will form fresh accumulations on E to S aspects from valley level. Heavy drifting will rapidly form unstable deposits in very sheltered locations. Avalanches are likely on steeper slopes above 500 metres as fresh windslab forms over a refrozen base. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). Unstable cornices will start to form. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Fresh snow above 800 metres on E to S aspects today. ICING: Turning colder overnight with 350 metre freezing level by Friday. COMMENT: Expect very difficult mountain conditions overnight and during Friday. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- GLENCOE AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS THU 10/3/05 Light snow showers on the highest slopes and temperature fluctuations have not significantly altered the overall condition of the snowpack which remains generally stable in many areas. Areas of moderately bonded soft slab remain in sheltered summit gullies and on steep slopes mainly with an East to Southerly aspect above 900 metres. The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2) AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK FRI 11/3/05 A return to colder conditions with frequent wintery showers and North-Westerly gales will affect the area overnight and on Friday. Unstable windslab will form in sheltered areas such as gullies and on slopes with a North-East to Southerly aspect mainly above 850 metres. Avalanches are likely where deep accumulations of fresh windslab form on steeper slopes. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). Many windward slopes will become scoured and icy. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Snow above 800 metres ICING: Freezing level lowering to 350 metres on Friday COMMENT: Fresh cornices and windslab will require great caution. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------