CREAG MEAGAIDH AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SAT 5/2/00 Continuing mild conditions and light rain on a strong South- West wind has left a somewhat depleted but well bonded snowpack. Main accumulations are found in North through East to South-East facing gullies and hollows above 800 metres and in these areas the avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). A danger of falling rocks and ice from the cliffs of Coire Ardair will persist throughout the milder conditions, ice and rock debris was observed below Easy Gully and in the Inner Coire. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SUN 6/2/00 A brief period of cooler temperatures and then freezing levels returning to well above the summits with Heavy rain tomorrow (6/2/00) on a severe gale force South-West wind will leave the snowpack soft and saturated. Main accumulations will persist in North through East to South-East facing gullies and hollows above 800 metres and in these areas the avalanche hazard will be Moderate (Category 2). A danger from falling debris will persist. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Some gullies still complete, very patchy elsewhere. ICING: Not a lot left. COMMENT: Most of the routes are now in Loch Laggan!! ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- LOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SAT 5/2/00 A thaw at all levels overnight and on Saturday has produced a moist and generally stable snowpack. The avalanche hazard is Low (Category 1). Any remaining cornices prone to collapse. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SUN 6/2/00 Colder conditions overnight and during Sunday will further aid the consolidation of the existing snowpack at all levels. Snow showers and strong WSW winds overnight and on Sunday morning will form isolated areas of fresh windslab in sheltered locations. Greatest accumulations will be at the tops of steep slopes and gullies with NE and E aspects above 900 metres. The avalanche hazard will be Moderate (Category 2). Warmer temperatures and rain at all levels later on Sunday will decrease stability in any fresh deposits. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Best above 800 metres in N and E facing corries. ICING: Thawing at all levels again by Sunday afternoon. COMMENT: Rock and icefall hazard in the thaw, limited conditions. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- GLENCOE AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SAT 5/2/00 The mild and wet conditions currently affecting the area are maintaining the snowpack in a moist condition at all levels. Greatest accumulations of snow exist in the higher North to East facing corries with some areas of firm snow remaining on exposed slopes. In sheltered summit gullies there are areas of deep soft snow. Stability of snowpack is good. The avalanche hazard is Low (Category 1). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SUN 6/2/00 Sleet and rain will maintain the snowpack in a soft moist condition. In most areas stability will remain good. Where soft wet accumulations form mainly at the tops of gullies with a North to East aspect above 900 metres and on slopes below cornices the avalanche hazard will become Moderate (Category 2). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Wet snow above 750m. ICING: Thawing ice above 900m. COMMENT: Limited conditions due to thaw ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SAT 5/2/00 Mild conditions are thawing the snowpack at all levels. All snow is saturated but remains stable, with greatest risk from collapsing ice pitches and rock fall. The avalanche hazard is Low (Category 1). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SUN 6/2/00 The return to cooler conditions on the summits will be brief and do little to stop snow thawing. During the day heavy rain will continue the saturation of snow at all levels. The avalanche hazard will be Low (Category 1). Rock and ice fall will continue to be a hazard. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Greatest cover in N to E corries above 900m and higher plateau areas. ICING: A lot of ice has disappeared or is running with water. COMMENT: Buttresses are black, some gullies are beginning to break. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SAT 5/2/00 The rain has eased but continued warm temperatures (3 degrees at 1000 metres) and prevailing Westerly winds further erode the snowpack. The snowpack where sampled at 1100 metres showed no consistent shears but is coarse grained and rain soaked through the top metre. The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SUN 6/2/00 The snowpack will continue to be reasonably strong and will have well established drainage channels. There will still be locations with up to 4 metres of snow. This zone will be above 1000metres. At elevations below 700-900 metres, depending on aspect, the surface 20-40 centimetres is very soft. The avalanche hazard will be Moderate (Category 2). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Snow patches only on approaches. ICING: Boulder field ice is just about gone, some Northern Corries routes showing loss of ice sections. COMMENT: The most promising cooling cycle is just after this forecast period. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------