NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS FRI 11/3/05 It has been a very cold day with snow showers on strong North-Westerly winds. Windward slopes are mainly icy and scoured but deep accumulations of weakly bonded windslab exist on Easterly through South to South-West aspects above 800 metres. Tests showed easy releases between hard and soft slab layers at 940 metres on a South-East aspect. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SAT 12/3/05 Strong North-Westerly winds will continue with snow showers and very cold temperatures. Existing slab will remain weakly bonded with further loading from the new snow. Avalanches will occur on North-East through East to South-Westerly aspects above 700 metres. Localised windslab will also affect lee areas and gully tops on North-West slopes. The avalanche hazard will be High (Category 4). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Skis still the fastest form of transport, walking laborious in corries due to breakable crust. ICING: Good climbing conditions but thick rime ice restricting protection cracks. COMMENT: A wintry outlook for the weekend. LOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS FRI 11/3/05 Very little new snow arrived overnight or this morning, but strong North-West winds have started to deposit windslab on to an icy crust. These deposits are forming in sheltered locations mainly on steep slopes with a North-East through to South aspect above 1000m. Avalanche debris reported from Easy Gully and other East aspects, Aonach Mor. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SAT 12/3/05 Wintry snow showers are expected overnight and on Saturday with very strong NNW winds. This snowfall will be deposited on existing windslab, or an icy crust. Unstable deposits will therefore build in sheltered locations, with greatest accumulations on scarp slopes and gully exits with a North-East through to South aspect above 900m. Avalanches are likely in these areas. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Best cover in East facing corries. ICING: Freezing level about 200m on Friday. COMMENT: Remaining cold and windy, with snow showers. GLENCOE AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS FRI 11/3/05 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 and windslab exist 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 SAT 12/3/05 Frequent wintry showers and North-North-Westerly gales will affect the area overnight and on Saturday. Fresh windslab will form in sheltered areas such as gullies and on slopes with an East to Southerly aspect mainly above 850 metres, where avalanches are likely. Bonding will be poor where deeper 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 300 metres for period. COMMENT: Fresh cornices and windslab will require great caution. SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS FRI 11/3/05 Snow showers have added some new snow to the existing snowpack. New light deposits have formed in sheltered locations on E to S aspects above 600 metres. These new deposits are poorly bonded to the re-frozen base but are not deep. The re-frozen base is not strong and has moderately bonded snow under it on steeper slopes. The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SAT 12/3/05 It will continue to be windy with further snow showers. Unstable areas of snow will continue to develop in sheltered locations on E to S aspects above 600 metres. These new deposits will be weakly bonded on steeper slopes. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Lochnagar buttresses are snowed up with routes possible. ICING: Some reasonable looking ice on West Gully. COMMENT: Breakable crust on many trails and tracks. CREAG MEAGAIDH AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS FRI 11/3/05 Thaw-freeze cycle has left the snowpack with an icy crust and generally well bonded on all aspects. The arrival of snow in the form of showers at mid-day is leading to shallow and isolated fresh windslab development with weak bonding evident to existing icy crust. Gale force North-West winds are continuing snow transport onto mainly East to South aspects with terrain features allowing cross loading on to North-East aspects above 800 metres. The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SAT 12/3/05 Snow showers are expected to continue on gale force North- West winds. The development of weakly bonded windslab will continue and become more widespread with sheltered gullies, hollows and steep scarp slopes holding deepest deposits. North- East through East to South aspects above 800 metres will be affected. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). Unstable cornice development will continue especially above Easterly aspects. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Good cover above 700 metres. ICING: Some reduction at low levels, generally fair. COMMENT: Snow showers rattling through like express trains in-between periods of sunshine. Fantastic and great for the complexion? -------------------------------------------------------------------------------