NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS THU 10/2/00 Slab continues to build mainly on East and South East aspects above 1000 metres but does not appear to have reached avalanche threshold. The slab shears easily in field tests. Limited visibility in moderate snow and strong winds reduced the opportunity to observe cornice development. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK FRI 11/2/00 The snowpack will be moderately to weakly bonded on many steep slopes, mainly East and Southeast aspects, over 1000 metres, as well as North-facing gully tops. The slab will be up to 1 metre thick. The instability will persist with additional snow load from showers and strong winds from the Southwest. Avalanches are likely on the indicated terrain. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Snow gullies well covered while the approaches are still pretty thin, unconsolidated snow on heather. ICING: Above 900 metres ice rebuilds in boulder fields; below 750 metres there's a smear over moist to wet ground. COMMENT: Steadily building avalanche hazard in the past few days. LOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS THU 10/2/00 A thaw freeze cycle overnight has stabilised all the old snow. Snow showers and strong Westerly winds during Thursday have produced fresh areas of windslab. Greatest accumulations exist in locations sheltered from the Westerly winds, notably at the tops of sheltered NE and E facing slopes and gullies above 900 metres. Localised deposits are also present in other sheltered locations. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). Wind blown snow slopes are frozen and stable. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK FRI 11/2/00 The strong showery WSW airflow will continue throughout the period. Unstable windslab will continue to form in areas sheltered from the prevailing winds. Greatest accumulations will be at the tops of NE and E facing slopes and gullies. Localised accumulations will also be present in other sheltered locations. Avalanches are likely where significant accumulations of windslab exist. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Main accumulations remain in high N and E facing corries. ICING: Wind blown snow slopes will remain frozen and stable. COMMENT: The lower ice routes on Ben Nevis are pretty thin or non-existent e.g. The Curtain does not exist. GLENCOE AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS THU 10/2/00 Colder conditions and severe SW gales have given the old snowpack a firm crust. There are large expanses of stable snow- ice on exposed slopes. Areas of soft slab exist in sheltered pockets on NE to SE slopes and in summit gullies. Deeper deposits on steep slopes are weakly bonded to the old snowpack with layers of hail present. In these locations the avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK FRI 11/2/00 Storm force winds and showers will deposit further new snow and transport existing deposits to sheltered areas on NE to SE slopes. Where summit gullies fan out layered windslab and hail will be weakly bonded to the old snowpack. Unstable cornices will continue to form. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). Exposed slopes will contain hard snow-ice. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: New snow above 450m. ICING: Ice forming on rocks above 600m. COMMENT: Crampons and axe essential hard snow-ice. on exposed slopes. Very gusty over ridges. SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS THU 10/2/00 Although a brief thaw has helped to stabilise recent deposits, today's heavy snow showers and drifting are causing new accumulations to form in sheltered locations on NE to SE aspects above 850 metres. Where these weakly bonded fresh deposits have acquired depth in gullies and on steeper slopes the avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK FRI 11/2/00 Overnight drifting and snow showers will continue to load deposits into sheltered locations on mainly N through to SE aspects. Stability will be poor especially where windslab overlies firmer snow-ice. A rising freezing level during the day will increase the load on an already weakly bonded snowpack. Avalanches are likely in gullies and on steeper sheltered slopes. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Old snow on high plateau areas. New snow drifting onto mainly N to E aspects. ICING: Improving with recent melt freeze cycle. COMMENT: The ground remains soft with water still running off the hills. Some ice and turf not fully frozen. CREAG MEAGAIDH AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS THU 10/2/00 With temperatures falling this morning and heavy snow showers on a severe gale force Westerly wind fresh windslab has been forming on North through East to South-East aspects. Sheltered gullies and hollows above 800 metres, as well as lee slopes below cornices, are most affected. Where these deposits are deepest the avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3); loose snow avalanche activity observed in Coire Ardair. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK FRI 11/2/00 Continuing snow showers and drifting on severe gale force South-Westerly winds will continue to build deposits of unstable windslab on North through East to South-East aspects above 750 metres. Sheltered areas, particularly gullies and hollows, will be most affected. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3) with avalanches likely in the above mentioned areas. Fresh unstable cornices will build throughout this period. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Improving cover above 600 metres - though main accumulations still above 800 metres. ICING: Cliffs looking bare, main waterways still running. COMMENT: A return to wild and wintry conditions. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------