NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS WED 2/2/00 Cooler temperatures (-3 degrees at 1300 metres), strong North- Westerly winds and some new snow (2-5 centimetres at 650 metres) have been the main weather features in the past 24 hours. The soft slab with easy shears is up to 35 centimetres thick in the Coire Domhain area. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK THU 3/2/00 In the Hell's Lum area the slab will be at least half a metre deep due to North-West winds. With additional snow the South- East aspects above 1000 metres will remain unstable. A wind shift to South-West will see significant loading on North-East facing slopes also. On both these aspects avalanches are likely. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Snow flurries in the valley floor with accumulations above 650 metres. ICING: Thicker ice without too many new holes in it yet. COMMENT: Cornice growth and erosion has moved around the compass points with few large cornices seen. LOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS WED 2/2/00 Strong Westerly winds with snow showers overnight and during Wednesday have formed isolated areas of fresh soft windslab in sheltered locations. Accumulations are generally restricted to the tops of steep slopes, gullies and sheltered hollows with NE to SE aspects above 900 metres. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). All wind scoured snow slopes are frozen and stable. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK THU 3/2/00 The cold, showery W to SW airflow will continue. Unstable windslab will continue to form in sheltered locations. Greatest accumulations will be on N, NE and E facing slopes and gullies above 900 metres. Avalanches are likely in these locations. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). Wind scoured snow slopes will be frozen and stable. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Main accumulations remain in N and E facing corries above 900m. ICING: Wind scoured snow slopes will be frozen and stable. COMMENT: Winds decreasing. GLENCOE AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS WED 2/2/00 Overnight and during Wednesday morning new snow and strong SW winds have affected the area. Fresh deposits of windslab have accumulated on slopes facing NE through to SE and in all sheltered gullies with the greatest accumulations being above 700 metres. On steep slopes these new deep accumulations are weakly bonded to the old snowpack and where these conditions exist the avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK THU 3/2/00 Snow showers can be expected during Wednesday night and Thursday morning accompanied by SW winds. Fresh deposits of windslab will continue to build and accumulate on slopes facing NE through to SE and in all sheltered gullies with the greatest accumulations above 700 metres. New deposits will be layered and unstable. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Snow cover above 600m. ICING: Ice forming above 600m. COMMENT: Still chilling conditions! Buttresses and ridges are the safer option. Fresh deposits require caution. SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS WED 2/2/00 Colder temperatures have refrozen the snowpack leaving it generally well bonded with a firm crust. Snow showers are depositing soft slab into many sheltered locations with the greatest accumulations to be found on E to S aspects. Though poorly bonded to the firmer snow ice the deposits have yet to acquire significant depth. The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK THU 3/2/00 Snow showers continuing through the period combined with wind transportation of recent deposits will cause unstable accumulations to build in many sheltered locations on N through to SE aspects. Gullies and steeper lee slopes will hold greatest accumulations with poor stability present where fresh deposits overlie firmer snow ice. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Mainly on high plateau areas and N to E facing corries. ICING: Mostly in deeper gully lines. COMMENT: Exposed slopes remain firm and scoured. CREAG MEAGAIDH AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS WED 2/2/00 Snow showers on gale force Westerly winds have deposited areas of deep unstable windslab in gullies and hollows of a North through East to South-East aspect above 800 metres. Fresh cornices are building above steep slopes of the same aspect. In these areas the avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK THU 3/2/00 Snow showers throughout the period and drifting on a strong West to South-West wind will continue to build deep accumulations of unstable windslab. Gullies and hollows of a North through East to South-East aspect above 800 metres will be most affected. Fresh cornices will remain unstable. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3) and avalanches are likely in the above mentioned areas. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Fresh snow above 700 metres, deepest accumulations on leeward slopes. ICING: Improving in the colder temperatures, most routes still complete but a bit thin and soft. COMMENT: Nice to see snow back - but for how long? -------------------------------------------------------------------------------