NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS WED 9/2/00 Up to 1 metre of cool new slab that shears easily is sitting on the crust. The distribution by aspect is highly variable above 1000 metres. Most consistently the loading is on East to South East aspects but not exclusively. The deeper, previously rain soaked snowpack is strong. Some surface sluffing observed in the strong winds. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK THU 10/2/00 The slab will warm from rising temperatures and rain, but cooling will follow quickly by morning. Principal loading from wind transport will still be East to South East aspects. The period of greatest instability will pass quickly with the cooling temperatures for tomorrow. Avalanches are likely on aspects identified. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Up to 40 centimetres of foot penetration in some lee areas of accumulation. ICING: Still gaps but filling in again on the steep and low angle terrain. COMMENT: Good crampon conditions in the snow gullies. Watch the exits for slab location. LOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS WED 9/2/00 Snow showers overnight have been followed by a thaw at all levels during Wednesday. Areas of unstable wet windslab are present, mainly on N, NE and E aspects above 850 metres. The avalanche hazard is High (Category 4). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK THU 10/2/00 Rain at all levels overnight will quickly be replaced by a cold, showery, Westerly airflow on Thursday morning. The existing areas of unstable wet snow will stabilise during the thaw-freeze cycle. During Thursday, fresh unstable windslab will form in sheltered locations. Greatest accumulations will be on NE, E and SE aspects above 800 metres. As accumulations become significant during the day, the avalanche hazard will become Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Wet snow at all levels by Wednesday afternoon. ICING: Large areas of snow-ice forming as freezing levels drop on Thursday. COMMENT: Strong winds continuing. GLENCOE AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS WED 9/2/00 New snow above 750 metres has accumulated on sheltered N to E facing slopes and in summit gullies. Wet slab exists in these locations which in places is weakly bonded to hail and dry slab. Avalanche activity was noted in Coire na Tulaich triggered by collapsing cornices. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK THU 10/2/00 Rain at all levels followed by colder conditions will give the snowpack a firm crust. Showers will deposit new windslab in sheltered areas on NE to SE slopes mainly above 700 metres. Areas of deeper soft slab are expected where summit gullies fan out with cornices reforming. In these locations the avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Snow above 700m. ICING: Thawing ice above 750m. COMMENT: Conditions should begin to improve during Thursday although still very gusty over ridges. SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS WED 9/2/00 The arrival of thaw conditions has left new deposits on N through to E aspects wet and unstable. Widespread surface snowballing and small sloughs from rocks were noted by observers in Lochnagar. Where deeper deposits exist in gullies and sheltered slopes the avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). Large cornices remain above some of the classic gully lines. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK THU 10/2/00 Overnight thaw conditions will ensure an unstable period before the return of snow and colder temperatures. In sheltered locations on N through to E aspects new deposits will reform on a gradually hardening snow ice base. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). Cornices and ice pitches will be prone to collapse before they can refreeze. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Light snow in sheltered areas on a harder base above 900m. ICING: New ice is still thin. Older ice still a bit soft. COMMENT: Buttresses likely to be black again after overnight rain. CREAG MEAGAIDH AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS WED 9/2/00 Drifting of fresh snow overnight on a severe gale force Westerly winds has deposited unstable windslab on North through East to South-East aspects above 800 metres. Rising temperatures during the day have started to stabilise the windslab, but fresh cornices which have formed above the same aspects have become increasingly unstable. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3) and avalanche debris was noted on Coire nan Gall. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK THU 10/2/00 Mild overnight temperatures and heavy rain will saturate the snowpack, leaving wet windslab on North through East to South-East aspects above 800 metres. Fresh cornices will become increasingly unstable and prone to collapse. During the morning temperatures will fall, helping to stabilise the snowpack, but deposits of fresh windslab will begin to reform on North through East to South-East aspects above 800 metres as the rain turns to snow. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Fresh deposits of snow above 600 metres have thawed rapidly during the day leaving main concentrations in North facing corries. ICING: Fragile ice forming although main waterways still running. COMMENT: With temperatures well above the summits again tonight devastation will return by morning! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------