NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS TUE 2/3/99 Snow showers followed by heavy rain initiated several wet, loose snow avalanches in Coire an t-Sneachda at around 1300hrs today. The avalanches ran on steep ground of a NE to E aspect, emanating from 1100 metres and running out close to the corrie floor. The avalanche hazard remains Considerable (Category 3) in these and similar areas. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK WED 3/3/99 Snow showers on SW winds, with rain at times, will bring little change to current avalanche conditions. Some marginal consolidation of older slab is possible below 1000m. Any pockets of new, wet snow on high, steep N to E aspects will be poorly stabilised during or immediately after rain, when avalanches are likely. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3) localised where new snow build up is greatest in these locations. Good stability expected in most other areas. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Wet snow at all levels on Tuesday. General cover above 850m remains good. ICING: Ice in reasonable quantity in places; buttress routes still a bit `scratchy'. All gullies well filled-out. COMMENT: LOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS TUE 2/3/99 A thaw during Tuesday has formed a moist snowpack at all levels. Instabilities in the existing snowpack are present in many locations. Poorly to moderately bonded snow is present on slopes and gullies with N, NE or E aspects. In these locations the avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). Large unstable cornices present. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK WED 3/3/99 A SW airflow overnight becoming NE by Wednesday is expected to consolidate the existing snowpack above 900m. Fresh areas of windslab will form on SE, S and SW aspects during this period. Greatest accumulations will be on sheltered steep slopes and gullies. In these locations the avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). Elsewhere the snowpack will be generally stable. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Main accumulations in N and E facing corries above 700m. ICING: Freezing level remaining at 900m overnight and on Wednesday. COMMENT: Colder conditions returning on Wednesday. GLENCOE AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS TUE 2/3/99 Rain at all levels has started to saturate the surface layers of the snowpack leading to some initial consolidation. However above 750m where areas of deep wet slab exists on steep slopes wet snow sluffs have occurred. Where these unstable wet snow deposits are lying on steep corrie headwalls and in steep sheltered gullies the avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). Cornices are soft, unstable and prone to collapse. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK WED 3/3/99 Below 850m remaining generally mild with some light rain/snow showers. Above 850m colder conditions are expected and the wet snowpack will start to refreeze. Where wet unstable snow still exists below 800m on steep slopes wet snow sluffs are likely. Above 850m the snowpack will consolidate in the lower temperatures producing firm and generally stable conditions and the avalanche hazard will be Moderate (Category 2). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Wet snow cover above 350m. ICING: Ice on rocks above 500m. COMMENT: Ridges and buttresses the safer option. SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS TUE 2/3/99 Fresh snowfall with W then backing S winds have led to further deposits of snow on N through to SE slopes. These deposits are moderately to weakly bonded on steep slopes and scarps and are becoming more unstable as thaw conditions progress. Cornices are also unstable. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3) AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK WED 3/3/99 Continuing showery conditions with freezing levels hovering around the summits will bring a mixture of snow and rain at all levels. The deposits on N through to SE slopes will remain poorly bonded on steep slopes where avalanches and cornice collapse are likely, especially with the onset of rain. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Fresh snow is slightly thawing at all levels. Largest accumulations are in sheltered N to S slopes, gullies and on plateau areas. ICING: Some good ice remains and should improve with freeze thaw cycles. COMMENT: Soft unconsolidated snow in Lochnagar, makes walk-ins tedious. CREAG MEAGAIDH AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS TUE 2/3/99 Today's mild temperatures and rain have aided the consolidation of the existing snowpack in some areas. However steep slopes of a NW through E to S aspect above 750m are becoming increasingly unstable and here the avalanche hazard remains High (Category 4). Cornices remain very unstable through this mild period. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK WED 3/3/99 Light snow on a fresh SW becoming NE wind will deposit isolated areas of fresh windslab on all aspects above 750m. Where accumulations are significant the avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). With freezing levels around the summits a risk of wet slides and cornice collapse will still exist on steep NW through E to S aspects above 800m. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Thawing at low levels but still good cover. ICING: Thawing at present, needs to get cold. COMMENT: A soggy day at Meagaidh today, but the skiing was still entertaining! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------