LOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SUN 7/2/99 Shallow accumulations of fresh unconsolidated snow exist, mainly on NE through to S aspects. In some localised areas, more significant accumulations are present and these exhibit surface instabilities. These deposits are generally located at the tops of E, SE and S facing slopes and gullies. In these localised areas the avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). On snow slopes exposed to the wind, a stable and frozen snow surface exists. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK MON 8/2/99 A blustery Northerly airflow will bring snow showers overnight and during Monday. Further deposits of unstable snow will form in sheltered locations. Greatest accumulations will be at the tops of E, SE and S facing slopes and gullies. Where significant accumulations of this fresh snow exists, the avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). Soft unstable cornices will form above these aspects. Wind scoured slopes will remain frozen and stable. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Thin cover of fresh snow exists above 600m. Main accumulations of old snow remain above 700m. ICING: Remaining cold at all levels. COMMENT: High wind-chill effect on Monday. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- CREAG MEAGAIDH AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SUN 7/2/99 Snowfall on a strong W to N wind has deposited localised accumulations of deep very unstable windslab in sheltered gullies and hollows of all aspects above 750m. In most places these areas of slab can be avoided, but where they are present the avalanche hazard is High (Category 4). Avalanche debris was noted in Coire a' Chriochairein. Elsewhere the snowpack is generally wind scoured hard neve. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK MON 8/2/99 Heavy snowfall tonight and tomorrow and severe gale force Northerly winds will continue the build up of very unstable windslab. Due to the variable nature of the wind in the corries this slab will build in sheltered gullies and hollows of all aspects above 650m. The avalanche hazard will be High (Category 4) and avalanches will occur. Wind scoured slopes will remain hard and stable. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Fresh snow at all levels - deep in sheltered gullies but still hard neve on many slopes. ICING: Improving but still thin at lower levels. Several routes in the Inner Coire were climbed over the weekend. COMMENT: A nice day out on the hill today - looks like more wind and blizzards tomorrow!! ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- GLENCOE AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SUN 7/2/99 The snowpack is generally firm and stable. Exposed N facing slopes are wind scoured and are very icy. Sheltered areas on NE to S slopes above 750m have areas of soft windslab containing layers of hail. Where these localised patches of soft slab overlie snow ice on E to S facing slopes and in sheltered gullies the avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK MON 8/2/99 Cold conditions with heavy snow showers and strong Northerly winds will affect the area. Windslab will continue to accumulate in sheltered hollows and gullies and on East to Southwest slopes mainly above 750m. These areas of windslab will be layered and weakly bonded on steeper slopes and in gullies. In these locations the avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3) and avalanches are likely. Elsewhere the snow will remain very icy and stable. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Snow cover above 650m. ICING: Ice forming on rocks above 300m. COMMENT: Crampons and axe essential; snowpack generally "bone" hard especially on N slopes, steep descents into corries require caution. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SUN 7/2/99 Additional, poorly stabilised windslab has been put down on all steep ESE to SW aspects above 1050m. Fragile cornices continue to build over these locations and the fresh slab that lies below them shears readily. High (Category 4) localised hazard of avalanche in these places. Small cornice-collapse triggered avalanche initiated in Ciste Mhearad at 1230hrs. Stability was excellent on all N aspects. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK MON 8/2/99 Little change is expected in the current weather and avalanche conditions. Heavy snow showers, N winds and very cold temperatures will prevail throughout the period. Stability will again be poor on steep ESE to SW slopes and gullies above 1050m where avalanches will occur. The areas immediately below new cornices will be of particular concern and here the avalanche hazard will be High (Category 4) localised. All N aspects will remain hard, icy and stable. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Fresh snow again lying at all levels on Sunday. Deep drifts in places above 1000m. ICING: Deceptively thin on some buttress routes. V. cold weather preserving what exists. Hard, `squeaky' neve in all gullies in N.Corries. COMMENT: Sunday summit minimum -11 degrees C. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SUN 7/2/99 Very strong NW to N winds and heavy snow showers at times have led to continued windslab build up mainly on E to S facing slopes, but also other sheltered areas including N facing corries. These deposits are quite deep in places with surface slab layers showing poor stability, even at lower altitudes. Deeper layers, lying on old snow- ice are also weakly bonded. The avalanche hazard for these and similar areas is High (Category 4). Elsewhere open areas remain scoured and icy. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK MON 8/2/99 Further snow showers and very strong N winds will continue the windslab build up onto existing unstable snow. Most deposits will be on E to S facing slopes, where unstable cornices continue to build, but also other sheltered areas including N facing corries. The avalanche hazard will remain High (Category 4) and avalanches will occur. Open areas will be scoured and remain icy. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Patchy snow cover is generally icy with deep soft snow in sheltered locations. ICING: Some good ice about. Buttresses holding snow, with good neve in places. Many routes being climbed. COMMENT: The very cold blustery weather continues! ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SUN 7/2/99 Additional, poorly stabilised windslab has been put down on all steep ESE to SW aspects above 1050m. Fragile cornices continue to build over these locations and the fresh slab that lies below them shears readily. High (Category 4) localised hazard of avalanche in these places. Small cornice-collapse triggered avalanche initiated in Ciste Mhearad at 1230hrs. Stability was excellent on all N aspects. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK MON 8/2/99 Little change is expected in the current weather and avalanche conditions. Heavy snow showers, N winds and very cold temperatures will prevail throughout the period. Stability will again be poor on steep ESE to SW slopes and gullies above 1050m where avalanches will occur. The areas immediately below new cornices will be of particular concern and here the avalanche hazard will be High (Category 4) localised. All N aspects will remain hard, icy and stable. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Fresh snow again lying at all levels on Sunday. Deep drifts in places above 1000m. ICING: Deceptively thin on some buttress routes. V. cold weather preserving what exists. Hard, `squeaky' neve in all gullies in N.Corries. COMMENT: Sunday summit minimum -11 degrees C. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------