NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS TUE 8/2/00 Overnight precipitation was mainly rain except at highest elevations, but colder conditions have allowed the snowpack to re-freeze. Heavy snow showers during the day, with very strong variable, but mainly North-Westerly winds, have created localised deposits of soft slab on all aspects in the Northern Corries. These deposits are at present shallow and mostly avoidable. However, massive wind transport is creating more substantial accumulations on East and South aspects, mainly above 1000 metres. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK WED 9/2/00 Snow showers and very strong South-Westerly winds will cause further build-up of poorly bonded slab lying on snow-ice on all Northerly aspects, mainly above 800 metres. Existing unstable deposits will remain on East and South aspects. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). Avalanches are likely in affected areas. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Easy gullies still complete. ICING: Some ice pitches have survived in Sneachda. COMMENT: Very blustery on Tuesday, more tomorrow. LOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS TUE 8/2/00 A thaw overnight has stabilised all of yesterdays snowpack. Fresh snow during Tuesday has created areas of fresh windslab. The strong WSW winds have deposited this windslab mainly on sheltered N, NE and E aspects above 900m. In these locations the avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). Wind scoured snow slopes above 800 metres are hard frozen and stable. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK WED 9/2/00 Further snow showers and WSW winds will further load sheltered locations with unstable snow. Greatest accumulations will be on sheltered N, NE and E aspects above 800 metres. During Wednesday afternoon, a rising freezing level will produce further instabilities within this windslab. Avalanches will occur in these locations. The avalanche hazard will be High (Category 4). Wind scoured snow slopes will remain hard frozen and stable. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Main accumulations remain in N and E facing corries. ICING: Freezing level rising above the summits during Wednesday afternoon. COMMENT: Strong winds continuing. GLENCOE AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS TUE 8/2/00 New snow has formed weakly bonded windslab in the tops of sheltered gullies and on slopes with a North to East aspect above 900 metres, elsewhere the snowpack is generally stable with exposed slopes scoured by the strong winds affecting the area. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3) where windslab has formed. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK WED 9/2/00 New snow and very strong winds will continue to form unstable windslab in sheltered areas such as summit gullies and on slopes with a North through to South-East aspect above 850 metres. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3) where deeper accumulations of windslab form on steeper slopes. Avalanches are likely in these areas. Cornices will also become prone to collapse as temperatures rise later in day. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Snow above 700m. ICING: Ice above 850m. COMMENT: Very windy on ridges. SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS TUE 8/2/00 Fluctuating temperatures overnight have begun to stabilise recent accumulations. Today's snow showers and strong winds are loading new deposits into sheltered locations on NE to SE aspects. Localised areas of weakly bonded snow exist and cornices are starting to reform above lee slopes. In gullies and on steeper slopes where drifting has caused deepest accumulations to form the avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK WED 9/2/00 Snow showers overnight and on Wednesday will continue windslab development in sheltered locations on N through to SE aspects. Although drifting will slow during the day as the snow becomes wetter, stability will be poor and where deposits acquire depth the avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Mostly on high plateau areas. ICING: Requires more time to become reliably frozen. COMMENT: Exposed slopes are firm and stable. CREAG MEAGAIDH AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS TUE 8/2/00 Drifting of fresh snow on severe gale force winds has built localised patches of very unstable windslab. These deposits are present mainly in North through East to South-East facing gullies and hollows, but, due to varying wind directions, may be found in sheltered areas of any aspect above 800 metres. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK WED 9/2/00 Snow showers on a severe gale force West becoming South- West wind will continue to build accumulations of very unstable windslab on North through East to South-East aspects above 800 metres. Sheltered gullies and hollows will be most affected. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). Rising temperatures during the day will start to consolidate the snowpack. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: New snow fallen to 700 metres; main cover in N to E facing corries. ICING: Some ice has survived in the Inner Coire, but it's soft and wet. COMMENT: Coire Ardair looking a bit more wintry today, unfortunately it's going to get warmer again! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------