NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SAT 3/1/98 Heavy snow showers on strong SW to W winds brought about a period of frequent avalanching in the N. Corries early on Saturday afternoon. Debris was noted to within a few metres of the floor of Coire an t- Sneachda, with the largest visible debris tips being below Aladdin's Couloir and the Trident gullies. The avalanche hazard on all steep N to E facing aspects above 1050m is High (Category 4). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SUN 4/1/98 Only marginal consolidation of new slab deposits is possible overnight. Some additional new slab is expected to build on steep, sheltered E aspects above 1000m during the early part of Sunday. Heavy snow on SW then SE winds later in the period will result in further poorly stabilised windslab development on all NW through to ENE aspects. Avalanches are likely in all these locations, particularly during the latter part of the day. Considerable (Category 3) hazard of avalanche. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Blizzard conditions down to 800m on Sat. Heavy drifting in sheltered areas. ICING: Cold temps. maintain steady development. COMMENT: Deteriorating avalanche conditions late on Sun. afternoon. LOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SAT 3/1/98 Strong SW winds and heavy snow have produced large areas of unstable snow. Greatest accumulations are on N, NE and E aspects above 900m. The avalanche hazard is High (Category 4) in these locations. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SUN 4/1/98 SW winds and cold temperatures are expected to continue overnight and during Sunday. Large areas of unstable windslab will be present, greatest accumulations being on N, NE and E aspects above 900m. Avalanches will occur in these locations. The avalanche hazard will be High (Category 4). Cornices will be unstable and prone to collapse. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Fresh snow above 700m with greatest accumulations in N and E facing corries above 900m. ICING: Freezing level lowering to 450m Sunday. COMMENT: The strong winds will moderate on Sunday. GLENCOE AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SAT 3/1/98 Heavy precipitation and gale force SW winds have deposited new snow above 600m. However the greatest accumulation of new snow is above 800m in gullies and sheltered hollows with a Northerly aspect. Windslab exists in sheltered areas on NW through to E facing slopes above 850m. Where windslab exists in these locations the avalanche hazard for today is High (Category 4). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SUN 4/1/98 Strong winds and snow showers can be expected for most of Sunday leading to further accumulations of windslab. The existing snowpack is weakly bonded above 850m on NW through to E facing slopes and further layers of windslab will form in these areas. In sheltered summit gullies these deposits may become very deep and unstable. Avalanches will occur in these areas. The avalanche hazard will be High (Category 4). Cornices will also be unstable and likely to collapse triggering slopes below. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Snow above 500m. ICING: Ice forming on rocks above 800m. COMMENT: Poor climbing conditions due to adverse weather and drifting snow above 800m. SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SAT 3/1/98 Fresh snow above 700m and very strong S winds have led to new accumulations on sheltered areas of N aspects. New deposits of snow are becoming stable although above 900m there are some moderately bonded areas where the avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). Cornices are also starting to form. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SUN 4/1/98 Further accumulations of snow will develop at sheltered locations mainly on N to SE aspects. These deposits will be poorly bonded particularly on steeper slopes above 850m where avalanches are likely. Cornices will be unstable. The avalanche hazard will remain Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Improved above 850m. ICING: Lean. COMMENT: Some higher footpaths icy. CREAG MEAGAIDH AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SAT 3/1/98 Heavy snow on very strong W winds is continuing the build up of very unstable windslab. Slopes of a NW to SE aspect above 800m are affected. The avalanche hazard is High (Category 4). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SUN 4/1/98 Further snowfall overnight on hurricane force W winds will add to the very unstable windslab on NW to SE slopes above 800m. Avalanches will occur in these areas. Snowfalls will continue through the day on SW/SE winds adding to the current unstable conditions. A High (Category 4) hazard of avalanche will exist. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Currently, 40cm of new snow to be found at 800m. ICING: Very poor and buried under lots of new snow. COMMENT: This weather should help fill in the gullies, but patience is required. Very poor mountain conditions today. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------