NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SUN 6/2/00 Zero degrees at 1100 metres and snow showers in strong Southwesterly winds provided some relief from the recent warming. The new snow has no bond to the crust and sluffed easily on steep terrain producing small loose snow avalanches. The deeper snowpack is stable. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK MON 7/2/00 New snow instability will exist mainly on North-West to North-East aspects but localised loading will occur on East aspects also. Avalanches are likely due to the new snow which will bond poorly to the coarse grained old surface crust. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: New snow above 1000 metres. ICING: Boulder field approaches are nearly a walk in the heather. COMMENT: Forecast snow amounts are significant with very poor bond in the recent snow. LOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SUN 6/2/00 A return to colder conditions overnight and on Sunday morning has generally consolidated the existing snowpack at all levels. The avalanche hazard is Low (Category 1). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK MON 7/2/00 Strong to storm force WSW to SE winds with snow showers overnight, turning to heavy snow by Monday will form fresh areas of unstable windslab in sheltered locations. Greatest accumulations will be on steep slopes, gullies and sheltered hollows with NW through to E aspects above 800 metres. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). Wind scoured slopes will be hard frozen and icy. Cornices will start to reform. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Best remaining in N and E facing corries ICING: Set to improve in the next freeze thaw cycle. COMMENT: Strong to storm force winds expected. Fresh areas of snow will require caution. GLENCOE AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SUN 6/2/00 The mild and wet conditions currently affecting the area are maintaining the snowpack in a soft moist condition at all levels. A light dusting of fresh wet snow is lying in sheltered hollows above 900 metres. Stability of snowpack is good. The avalanche hazard is Low (Category 1). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK MON 7/2/00 New snow and very strong winds will form areas of unstable windslab in all sheltered areas such as summit gullies and on slopes with a North-West through North to Easterly aspect above 850 metres. The avalanche hazard will become Considerable (Category 3) as deeper accumulations of windslab form. Avalanches are likely in these locations where windslab forms on steeper slopes. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Wet snow above 800m. ICING: Thawing ice above 950m. COMMENT: Very windy on Monday SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SUN 6/2/00 A brief lowering of the freezing level to about 900 metres has slowed the thawing process with the surface layers of the snowpack beginning to firm up at this altitude. The avalanche hazard is Low (Category 1). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK MON 7/2/00 Snow showers overnight becoming heavy on Monday will accumulate as weakly bonded deposits on many aspects from W through to SE. Greatest accumulations will be found in very sheltered locations on N to E aspects. The stability of this rapidly accumulating fresh snow will be poor especially where it overlies firmer snow-ice that now exists mainly above 850 metres. In steeper gullies and sheltered lee slopes on N to E aspects avalanches are likely. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Mainly above 900 metres in N to E corries and on higher plateau areas. ICING: Will require time to re-freeze and build up again. COMMENT: Expect difficult mountain conditions on Monday. CREAG MEAGAIDH AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SUN 6/2/00 A trace of fresh snow fell overnight at around 1000 metres, but it has had no impact on the depleted snowpack. Although open slopes are well bonded and stable on all aspects, the mild conditions are causing ice and snow to collapse from watercourses and remaining large cornices are unstable. Due to these factors the avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK MON 7/2/00 Moderate snowfalls overnight on a severe storm force westerly wind will quickly build accumulations of unstable windslab in sheltered gullies and hollows of a North through East to South- East aspect above 800 metres. During the day a change in wind direction will also affect North-Western aspects with unstable slab. With the new windslab forming on top of an excellent sliding surface the avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3) with avalanches likely on the above aspects. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Patchy above 800 metres. Even the easier gullies are beginning to look broken. ICING: Gone COMMENT: A very deep depression! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------