NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SAT 12/3/05 There have been continuous snow showers on strong North-Westerly winds with very cold temperatures. Unstable windslab has accumulated mainly on North-East through East to South-West aspects above 700 metres. On a North-East aspect at 1000 metres easy releases were observed in the surface layers with a deep-seated weakness existing beneath this. The avalanche hazard is High (Category 4). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SUN 13/3/05 Snow showers will become less frequent on strong North-Westerly winds with summit temperatures remaining well below freezing. Windslab will continue to accumulate mainly on North-East through to Southerly aspects above 700 metres where avalanches are likely. A deep-seated weakness exists in the snowpack with areas such as the West Wall of Lochain being especially affected. Localised windslab will exist on lee areas of Northerly gully tops. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Good cover with wind-scoured icy areas filling in again. ICING: Everything well frozen in sub zero temperatures. COMMENT: White-out conditions in the Cairngorms today. LOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SAT 12/3/05 Some fresh snow arrived overnight with a strong North-West wind. Areas of weakly bonded windslab have formed in sheltered locations mainly on steep slopes with a North-East through to South aspect above 1000m. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). Dry slab triggered in Easy Gully this morning. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SUN 13/3/05 A strong North-Westerly airflow will bring snow showers overnight and on Sunday. Some longer periods of snow are possible on Sunday evening. Unstable windslab will continue to form in sheltered locations with greatest accumulations on steep 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: Deep snow building up in East facing corries. ICING: Staying cold with a freezing level about 200m on Sunday. COMMENT: Fresh cornices will be unstable. GLENCOE AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SAT 12/3/05 A cold North-North-Westerly airflow has firmed up and scoured much of the snowpack forming an icy crust and rendering it generally stable. Wind transport of both new and existing snow has formed windslab in sheltered areas such as summit gullies and on scarp slopes with an Easterly to Southerly aspect mainly above 950 metres. Stability of these accumulations is poor on steeper slopes in particular gully exits and areas below cornices. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). Loose snow debris noted below an ESE aspect from 1000 metres. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SUN 13/3/05 It will remain cold with wintry showers becoming more frequent later on Sunday. Strong North-Westerly winds will affect the area forming fresh windslab in sheltered areas such as gullies and on slopes with an North-East to Southerly aspect mainly above 900 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 200 metres for period. COMMENT: Fresh cornices and windslab will require great caution. SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SAT 12/3/05 Strong winds and snow showers have continued the development of unstable windslab. These deposits were to be found in very sheltered locations on E to S aspects above 600 metres. Stability was poor on steeper slopes where observers noted cracking and triggered surface layers. Elsewhere was generally scoured and icy. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SUN 13/3/05 There will be some continued development of windslab before the winds and showers ease during the day. Deeper areas of moderately to weakly bonded windslab will be found in sheltered locations on E to S aspects above 600 metres. These deeper deposits will demonstrate poor stability. Exposed areas will remain scoured and icy. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Icy in exposed locations with deeper wind blown deposits in sheltered areas. ICING: Good in some locations but still no real build up. COMMENT: A windy and difficult day on the hill. CREAG MEAGAIDH AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SAT 12/3/05 It has been cold with snow showers on North-West winds. Weakly-bonded windslab has become more widespread on steep terrain above 850 metres. Up to 60cms of new slab lies on very sheltered East to South aspects and some has been cross-loaded on to North-East-facing gully heads. Surface conditions vary markedly from hard, scoured snow-ice to breakable crust and areas of drifted new snow. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SUN 13/3/05 Snow showers will continue on strong North-West winds. Accumulations of weakly-bonded windslab will continue to develop and become deeper on steep scarp slopes and sheltered gullies. Most affected will be North-North-East through East to South-East aspects above 850 metres where avalanches are likely. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3) CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Best almost unbroken cover above 700m. Dire breakable crust at lower elevations. ICING: Remaining fair. COMMENT: Spring-like below 600m and sub-Arctic 750m on Saturday. Creag Meagaidh quite busy. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------