NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS FRI 11/2/00 A dry day with strong West to North-West winds has maintained localised areas of windslab on mainly North-East to South-East facing slopes. Easy shears were obtained on an Easterly aspect at 1150 metres, but the surface slab required high load to fail. Other aspects are mainly hard frozen and stable. Although hazard areas are localised and mainly avoidable, the avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SAT 12/2/00 Overnight snow on very strong South-Westerly winds will turn showery during the day. This will create areas of fresh windslab mainly on North and East aspects above 800 metres. Gully tops on other aspects will also be affected. Avalanches are likely in these areas. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Main gullies still complete, with corries retaining reasonable cover. Plateau patchy. ICING: Some ice pitches have survived, now improving. COMMENT: Much water ice on plateau. LOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS FRI 11/2/00 Snow overnight with strong WSW winds have produced areas of weakly bonded windslab in sheltered locations. Below 1000 metres this windslab is moist. Greatest accumulations are on steep slopes, gullies and sheltered hollows with N through to E aspects above 800 metres. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SAT 12/2/00 Strong WSW winds and further snow showers for the forecast period will continue to build areas of weakly bonded windslab in many sheltered locations. Steep slopes, scarp slopes and gullies with N through to E aspects above 800 metres will be particularly affected by this slab build up. Avalanches are likely in these locations. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Building again in N and E facing corries. ICING: Some higher ice routes still in condition. COMMENT: Continuing unsettled. Strong winds expected by Saturday. GLENCOE AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS FRI 11/2/00 Warmer temperatures have softened the crust on the old snowpack. Snow showers above 800 metres have deposited further layers of soft slab on NE to SE slopes. Approaches to summit gullies contain areas of deep soft slab and hail which is weakly bonded. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). Frequent sluffs down several gullies in Coire nan Lochan today. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SAT 12/2/00 Showers overnight and during Saturday will deposit further layered windslab on NE to SE slopes above 700 metres. As temperatures fall the old snowpack will develop a firm crust particularly on exposed ridges. Areas of deep soft slab below summit gullies will be unstable. Avalanches are likely where unstable cornices overhang summit gully exits. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Snow cover above 700m. ICING: Thawing ice above 700m. COMMENT: Conditions should improve during Saturday although still blustery over ridges. SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS FRI 11/2/00 Light new snowfall and drifting above 900 metres has left new deposits in localised locations on N through to SE aspects. Although new snow is showing signs of bonding where there is reasonable depth stability remains marginal over the harder snow-ice base. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SAT 12/2/00 Snow showers and high winds will lead to weakly bonded accumulations in sheltered locations on N through to SE aspects. Where deeper accumulations exist over a harder base on steeper and scarp slopes avalanches are likely. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). Reformed cornices will require care. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: New snow patches over harder base on N to SE aspects. Thawing under 900m. ICING: New developments are frail, buttresses have some snow sticking to them but turf is not completely frozen in places. COMMENT: Another windy day in prospect. CREAG MEAGAIDH AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS FRI 11/2/00 Moderate snowfalls overnight on a gale force South-West wind caused deep accumulations of unstable windslab to form in sheltered gullies of a North through East to South-East aspect above 800 metres. Initially a period of instability caused avalanches to occur. Fresh debris was noted in Coire a' Bhein on the northern flanks of Carn Liath. Milder conditions this afternoon have helped to start the consolidation process. The avalanche hazard remains Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SAT 12/2/00 Snowfalls on very strong South-West winds, will continue to build unstable windslab on North through East to South-East aspects above 800 metres. Initially only the very tops of sheltered gullies will be affected but as the temperature drops through the day, heavy drifting will affect lower altitudes as well. The avalanche hazard will remain Considerable (Category 3) with avalanches likely on the above aspects. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: New snow down to 600 metres. Northern gullies still hold the most. ICING: There is winter climbing to be had, but ice conditions are not good. COMMENT: Nice to see the winter back after the recent thaw. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------