NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS TUE 4-1-00 Snow has been continuous during the morning, with heavy drifting above 600 metres. This has caused substantial fresh accumulations, on mainly North-West through to East facing slopes. These new layers lie on already unstable deposits, above old snow-ice. Very easy shears in new surface layers were obtained on a North-Easterly aspect at 950 metres. The avalanche hazard is High (Category 4). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK WED 5-1-00 Heavy precipitation will prevail during the day, with early snow turning to rain. This will lead to widespread avalanche activity. Dry snow avalanches will occur in the morning and wet snow avalanches later in the period. All aspects from North-West through to South will be affected, with avalanche run-out possible to below 700 metres. The avalanche hazard will be High (Category 4). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Extensive areas of fresh snow above 600 metres. Old snow-ice still underlies. ICING: Extensive icing of boulder-fields. COMMENT: Most climbing parties wisely giving it best. LOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS TUE 4/1/00 Heavy snow showers and strong SW winds overnight and during Tuesday have continued to form areas of unstable windslab on a existing ice layer in many sheltered locations. Greatest accumulations are on sheltered steep slopes, gullies and hollows with N to E through to SE aspects above 800m. In these locations the avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). Large cornices are continuing to form. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK WED 5/1/00 Strong W to SW winds with heavy snow showers will continue to form areas of unstable windslab in sheltered locations. Greatest accumulations will be on sheltered steep slopes and gullies with N, E and SE aspects above 800m where avalanches will occur. As warmer conditions and rain move into the area later on Wednesday there will be period of high instability. The avalanche hazard will be High (Category 4). Existing cornices prone to collapse. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Fresh snow lying down to 400m, General cover above 700m ICING: freezing level rising above the summits later on Wednesday. COMMENT: Strong to gale force winds on Wednesday. GLENCOE AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS TUE 4/1/00 New snow is lying above 500 metres. Fresh windblown deposits of hail and snow have formed in locations sheltered from the strong SW winds. Deep accumulations of weakly bonded windslab have formed above 850 metres on steeper slopes with a North through to East aspect and at the tops of sheltered gullies. In these areas the avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK WED 5/1/00 New snow, heavy for a time, followed by heavy rain or sleet at all levels by mid day will initially form deep unstable windslab on N through to SE facing slopes and sheltered gullies above 700 metres. Milder conditions with rain later will saturate the snowpack, bringing a period of high instability when avalanches will occur on N through to SE slopes and all sheltered gullies above 700 metres. The avalanche hazard will be High (Category 4). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Snow above 500 metres. ICING: Ice on rocks and paths above 600 metres. COMMENT: Milder and wet conditions later in day will increase hazard of cornice collapse and rockfall. SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS TUE 4/1/00 New snowfall and drifting of recent deposits in strong S winds have led to accumulations of windslab in sheltered locations of NW through to E aspects above 800m. Shear tests revealed a weakly bonded snowpack. Where accumulations are at their greatest on steep slopes and in gullies the avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). Exposed slopes remain stable. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK WED 5/1/00 Further snowfall overnight and early tomorrow on a SW wind will continue to deposit unstable windslab on N through to SE aspects above 800m. On steep sheltered slopes and in gullies where the snowpack is already weakly bonded avalanches will occur. The avalanche hazard will be High (Category 4). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Broken up to 800m, reasonable thereafter. ICING: Building slowly. COMMENT: Freezing level rising to 1200m during Wednesday morning. CREAG MEAGAIDH AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS TUE 4/1/00 Heavy snow showers on a very strong SW wind, coupled with severe drifting of existing snow, have caused accumulations of windslab to form in sheltered gullies and hollows of a N through E to SE aspect above 700m. Fresh cornices are building above the same aspects. The avalanche hazard remains High (Category 4) in these localised areas. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK WED 5/1/00 Overnight and during the morning windslab will continue to build in sheltered gullies and hollows of a N through E to SE aspect above 700m. A sharp rise in temperature will follow causing a period of high instability with wet snow slides and cornice collapse occurring on lee slopes (N through E to SE). The avalanche hazard will remain High (Category 4). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Good cover above 700m. ICING: Anything built up in the last couple of days will all fall down tomorrow. COMMENT: Poor mountain conditions look set to continue. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------