NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SAT 8-1-00 Heavy snow showers on strong Westerly winds have created areas of fresh windslab on all Easterly aspects, mainly above 800 metres. Unstable cornices are building above North-East to South-East facing slopes. Repeated easy shears were obtained in soft surface layers up to one metre deep on Easterly aspects at 800 metres. The slab layers overlie old snow-ice. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SUN 9-1-00 Overnight snow showers will further add to accumulations on Easterly aspects, mainly above 800 metres. Scarp slopes and gully tops of other aspects will also be subject to build-up through cross loading. Avalanches are likely in these areas due to new snow instabilities. Fresh cornices will be liable to collapse. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: New snow lies above 600 metres, with many large areas of old snow-ice. Main fresh accumulations in NE aspects of corries above 800 metres. ICING: Re-freeze taking place above 700 metres. COMMENT: Wild weather abating somewhat. LOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SAT 8/1/00 Colder temperatures overnight have stabilised the existing old snowpack. Snow showers and strong Westerly winds during Saturday have started to produce fresh areas of windslab. This windslab has increased in quantity during the day. Significant accumulations are restricted to sheltered locations, notably at the tops of NE, E and SE aspects above 800m. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SUN 9/1/00 Further snow showers and Westerly winds are expected overnight and during Sunday. Unstable windslab will continue to form in sheltered locations. Greatest accumulations will be at the tops of NE, E and SE facing slopes and gullies. Avalanches are likely in these locations. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). Wind scoured snow slopes will be hard frozen and stable. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Main accumulations remain in N and E facing corries. ICING: All wind scoured snow slopes will be hard frozen and icy. COMMENT: Better mountain conditions expected on Sunday. GLENCOE AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SAT 8/1/00 Colder conditions have given the old snowpack a firm crust. Heavy showers have deposited large patches of soft slab on N to E facing corrie headwalls above 600 metres. In sheltered summit gullies deep soft slab exists which is very unstable. In these locations the avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). Avalanche activity noted in Crowberry Gully today. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SUN 9/1/00 Snow showers will continue above 300 metres. N to E facing corrie headwalls and particularly summit gullies will accumulate deep soft slab. This windslab will be very unstable and avalanches are likely in sheltered gullies. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: New snow above 400 metres. ICING: Ice forming above 400 metres. COMMENT: Buttresses the safer option. SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SAT 8/1/00 Snow showers and strong winds have left new deposits of windslab in sheltered locations on NE through to SE aspects above 800 metres. On steeper slopes and in gullies of these aspects the snowpack is moderately to weakly bonded and the avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SUN 9/1/00 Overnight snow showers and drifting will continue to load deposits onto the unstable snowpack in sheltered locations on NE through to SE aspects. Where accumulations are at their greatest on steeper slopes and in gullies of these aspects avalanches are likely. The avalanche hazard will remain Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Improving above 700 metres, with most amounts on N through to SE aspects. ICING: Will require some clearing of powder snow in N and E facing corries. COMMENT: Exposed slopes are firm and scoured. CREAG MEAGAIDH AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SAT 8/1/00 Fresh snowfall on a very strong SW wind has caused deep, accumulations of unstable windslab to form in sheltered gullies and hollows of a N through E to SE aspect above 750 metres. Additionally the snowpack contains numerous weak layers of hail giving the windslab a very easy surface to avalanche on. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SUN 9/1/00 Continuing snowfall will further load existing unstable windslab accumulations on N through E to SE aspects above 750 metres. Weak layers will persist within the snowpack due to the cold conditions. With this further loading of slopes the avalanche hazard will increase to High (Category 4). Avalanches will occur on the above mentioned aspects. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Fresh snow falling to 600 metres. Main cover above 700 metres. ICING: Plenty of ice on the Coire Ardair. Pretty soft and buried in snow in most places. COMMENT: Large cornices are evident. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------