NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS TUE 15/3/05 Rain on strong South-Westerly winds is beginning to saturate the snowpack at all levels and aspects. Windslab accumulations overlying weak layers on North-East through to South-Westerly aspects above 900 metres are becoming more unstable. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK WED 16/3/05 Rain on strong West-South-Westerly winds will continue to affect the snowpack. The freezing level will rise further to 2500 metres and temperatures on summits will reach 8§C. As the moisture penetrates the snowpack further, unstable layers will continue to weaken. Cornices will become more unstable. Avalanches will occur on most aspects above 650 metres where accumulations are present. The avalanche hazard will be High (Category 4). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Saturated snow at all levels. ICING: Becoming very wet and dripping. COMMENT: Rain and warm temperatures to continue. LOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS TUE 15/3/05 Snow overnight has been quickly replaced by rain at all levels. The snowpack has become moist and unstable, particularly on steep North-East, East and South-East aspects. The avalanche hazard is High (Category 4). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK WED 16/3/05 Heavy rain and strong WSW winds will continue overnight and during Wednesday. The snowpack will continue to thaw at all levels but will gradually consolidate and begin to stabilise overnight. On Wednesday, wet snow instabilities will be generally restricted to steep aspects above 900m. The avalanche hazard will be Moderate (Category 2). Any existing cornices will be unstable and prone to collapse. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Wet snow at all levels ICING: Freezing level remaining around 2500m. COMMENT: Wet! GLENCOE AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS TUE 15/3/05 New snow fell overnight but mild and wet conditions are now affecting the area. The snowpack is becoming wet at all levels. Instabilities exist on steep slopes and gullies where recent deeper accumulations of snow exist. Greatest accumulations are in sheltered summit gullies and on slopes with a North through East to South-East aspect. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3) AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK WED 16/3/05 Mild conditions and very heavy rain overnight will give a period of high snowpack instability on steep slopes and gullies. The heavy rain will continue through Wednesday maintaining wet snow instabilities in all sheltered gullies and on steep slopes mainly with a North through East to South Easterly aspect mainly above 900 metres where avalanches and cornice collapse are likely. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Main cover above 700 metres but level rising fast with thaw conditions set in. ICING: Freezing level 2500 metres, plus 8 degrees Centigrade on summits for period. COMMENT: Very mild, very wet with severe gales from S.W. Rainfall totals 50 mm minimum over next 36 hours. SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS TUE 15/3/05 Overnight snow has turned to light rain during the day. Fresh deposits are present on NW through NE to E aspects. Above 600 metres these moderately to weakly bonded deposits are unstable on steeper ground. Milder conditions are starting to moisten surface layers increasing the load on these marginal bonds. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK WED 16/3/05 Extremely mild and wet conditions are forecast for the area overnight, producing an active period of avalanche activity involving all recent deposits. There will be an improvement in stability on Wednesday, but it will remain very mild with potentially unstable deposits being found on NW through E to S aspects on steeper ground. Any remaining cornices will provide a hazard as will falling ice and rocks. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Significant loss expected in the next 24-hour period. ICING: Plus eight degrees centigrade at 1000 metres! COMMENT: Falling ice and rocks will present a serious hazard. CREAG MEAGAIDH AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS TUE 15/3/05 Overnight snowfall on South-East to South-West winds was followed by heavy rainfall from late morning onwards. Rain on new snow triggered numerous avalanches and debris from slab and loose snow events was noted on steep slopes of all aspects above 750 metres. Stability continues to decline in all locations. The avalanche hazard is High (Category 4). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK WED 16/3/05 Persistent heavy rain and very mild temperatures are forecast overnight and during Wednesday. Rain and meltwater will permeate newer snow layers in the snowpack and seriously weaken the bonds between them. Avalanches will occur on slopes of all aspects above 750 metres and some of these may be large. All cornices will be prone to sudden collapse. The avalanche hazard will remain High (Category 4). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Very wet snow at all levels on Tuesday. +4.0 degrees C. on summits today. ICING: Rapid decline imminent. Falling ice a likely problem during the meltdown. COMMENT: Not a good day to be in the mountains. Maximum summit temperatures predicted to be +8.0 degrees C. on Wednesday with heavy rain. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------