NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS MON 14/3/05 Today has been sunny and clear with a gentle wind from the West. The snowpack is generally stable due to the settling and re-freezing process taking place on most aspects below 900 metres. Weaknesses do remain in the snowpack below a windslab layer on North-East through to South aspects above 900 metres. Field tests on this aspect at 1030 metres produced easy releases between layers. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK TUE 15/3/05 Overnight winds from the South-East will bring snow above 300 metres. Windslab will form in lee areas on West to Northerly aspects above 600 metres. During the day precipitation will continue with winds veering South-Westerly. Unstable windslab will also form on North to Easterly aspects above 600 metres. The freezing level will rise rapidly from midday to summit altitudes. The snowpack will be weakened by the moisture which will affect all aspects and altitudes. Avalanches will occur on West through North to South Easterly aspects above 600 metres. The avalanche hazard will be High (Category 4). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Good snow cover ICING: Lots of rime on buttresses COMMENT: A rapid thaw is expected with rain. LOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS MON 14/3/05 Strong overnight winds have formed further areas of weakly bonded snow in sheltered locations. Accumulations of soft unstable surface slab are present mainly on scarp slopes and crag aprons with a North-East, East and South-East aspect. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). Avalanche debris observed on East aspects on Aonach Mor. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK TUE 15/3/05 Snow showers will continue overnight followed by a gradual warming during Tuesday. Areas of unstable windslab will be present mainly on scarp slopes and crag aprons with a North East, East and South East aspect. Avalanches will occur, notably later in the afternoon as the warmer temperatures become established. The avalanche hazard will be High (Category 4). Cornices will become increasingly unstable and prone to collapse. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Reasonable cover above 700m. ICING: Freezing level expected slowly to rise during Tuesday. COMMENT: Wind blown slopes remain hard-frozen and stable. GLENCOE AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS MON 14/3/05 New snow fell mainly overnight followed by the odd shower today. Westerly winds have formed windslab in sheltered areas such as summit gullies and on scarp slopes with a North- Easterly through to Southerly aspect mainly above 950 metres. Stability of windslab is poor on steeper slopes in particular gully exits and areas below cornices. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). Many slopes exposed to recent strong winds are scoured and are in a stable condition. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK TUE 15/3/05 New snow heavy at times will affect the area through much of the period. Fresh winds from the South-East overnight veering and strengthening from the South-West on Tuesday will form fresh unstable windslab in sheltered gullies, hollows and on slopes with a West through North to South-Easterly aspect mainly above 850 metres. Bonding will be poor where any deeper accumulations of fresh windslab form on steeper slopes or where snow-ice underlies. Avalanches will occur particularly as milder conditions start affecting the area. The avalanche hazard will be High (Category 4). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: New snow above 500 metres this morning, main cover above 800 metres. ICING: Freezing level 400 metres overnight but rising to 700 metres by Tuesday midday with further rise expected. COMMENT: Milder conditions on Tuesday with heavy rain later will weaken snowpack and cornices. SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS MON 14/3/05 Some consolidation is taking place especially in shallow deposits that are being sun warmed. Moderately to weakly bonded windslab is present in the deeper accumulations that are to be found in very sheltered locations on E to S aspects above 700 metres. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK TUE 15/3/05 Overnight snow will form windslab on W to N aspects. With a change of wind direction during the day, new deposits will form on N to E aspects. On steeper ground above 600 metres where sufficient deposits form over a snow-ice base avalanches are likely. Moderately bonded snow will be found in sheltered locations on E to S aspects above 700 metres. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: South aspects and high plateau areas are currently holding the best cover. ICING: Remaining cold with ice still present. COMMENT: Evening weather forecasts will give the most recent information on expected snow amounts. CREAG MEAGAIDH AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS MON 14/3/05 Dry and less cold conditions have resulted in some consolidation of most recent deposits. Moderate shears were obtained on a steep Easterly-facing aspect and avalanche debris was noted from an overnight event in Coire Dubh, as low as 800 metres. Pockets of windslab persist on sheltered North-East through East to South-facing scarp slopes and gully tops. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK TUE 15/3/05 Snow showers overnight and on Tuesday will be accompanied by fresh South-East then South-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-West to North-East aspects above 900 metres where avalanches are likely. The avalanche hazard will remain Considerable (Category 3) CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Still plentiful on the tops. Sparse below 700 metres ICING: Good in selected locations. Crags still reasonably plastered from recent snows. COMMENT: Still very much winter on the tops.