NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS TUE 29/2/00 Heavy overnight snow showers with strong West and North- West winds have added further slab accumulations on all Easterly aspects above 850 metres. Very easy shears were obtained in soft slab layers at a North-East facing test site at 950 metres. However, less deep new slab on a 40 degree convex slope at 1130 metres showed reasonable bonding to underlying snow-ice and could not be triggered. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK WED 1/3/00 Frequent snow showers on North-West to North-North West winds will further load existing slab deposits on East and South facing slopes. In the cold conditions, existing unstable layers on Northerly aspects will persist. New cornices will be unstable. Avalanches will occur on affected slopes above 800 metres. The avalanche hazard will be High (Category 4). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: New snow improving cover for ski- ing, but not helping climbing conditions. ICING: Ice is there, but mostly buried. COMMENT: Winds easing a little. LOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS TUE 29/2/00 Unstable windslab is continuing to form in areas sheltered from the W-SW winds. Greatest accumulations are on sheltered N, NE, E and SE aspects, notably on scarp slopes and at the tops of gullies. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). Windward snow slopes and hard frozen and stable. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK WED 1/3/00 NW-NNW winds and snow showers are expected through out the period. The existing windslab will start to redistribute into sheltered locations. Fresh windslab will also form in these sheltered locations. Greatest accumulations will be on sheltered NE, E, SE and S facing slopes and gullies. Avalanches are likely where accumulations are greatest, notably on scarp slopes and at the tops of gullies. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). Wind scoured snow slopes will be hard frozen and stable. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Fresh snow lying above 450 metres. ICING: Remaining cold. COMMENT: Snow-ice will be present on many windward slopes. GLENCOE AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS TUE 29/2/00 Strong SW/W winds and snow showers have deposited further new layers of windslab on N through to E facing slopes above 750 metres. Slopes exposed to the strong winds above 850m have less accumulations of new snow and are icy in many places. The snowpack layers contain hail and is weakly bonded in most sheltered areas. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3) where deeper accumulations of windslab exist on steeper slopes. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK WED 1/3/00 Colder conditions with snow showers will continue during Tuesday night becoming less frequent on Wednesday. Strong winds will continue to re-distribute snow forming areas of weakly bonded windslab. The deepest accumulations can be expected on N through to SE facing slopes and in all sheltered hollows and gullies above 700 metres. Where deep layered windslab exists on steep slopes especially on scarp slopes below cornices avalanches are likely. The avalanche hazard in these locations is Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Snow cover above 300m. ICING: Ice above 750m, if you can see it for the snow. COMMENT: Buttresses and ridges are the safer option. Most gullies contain deep unstable snow. SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS TUE 29/2/00 Some overnight snow and subsequent drifting has continued to load fresh deposits into sheltered locations on N aspects with more widespread accumulations on NE to SE aspects. Stability is poor with avalanche debris noted from Raeburn's Gully, Lochnagar. Gullies are holding vast amounts of weakly bonded snow and large cornices exist. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK WED 1/3/00 Further snow showers and drifting will continue the development of unstable windslab in sheltered locations on N aspects with more extensive accumulations on NE to SE aspects. Stability will be poor and avalanches will occur. The avalanche hazard will be High (Category 4). Cornices will continue to threaten the slopes below. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Deep drifts on N through to SE aspects and high plateau areas. ICING: Partially frozen ice and turf buried beneath large amounts of unconsolidated powder. COMMENT: Poor climbing conditions exist at present. CREAG MEAGAIDH AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS TUE 29/2/00 Fresh snowfalls on a gale force Westerly wind have caused deep accumulations of unstable windslab to form on sheltered slopes of a North through East to South-East aspect above 700 metres. Additionally with the wind swinging round to the North at the time of writing, heavy drifting is beginning to build windslab on South-East to South-West aspects as well. The avalanche hazard is High (Category 4). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK WED 1/3/00 Continuing snow showers on a strong North-West wind will redistribute unstable windslab onto sheltered slopes of a North- East through South-East to South aspects above 700 metres. With cold conditions continuing, instabilities deep within the snowpack will persist. Fresh cornices will continue to build throughout the period. The avalanche hazard will remain High (Category 4) with avalanches occurring on the above mentioned aspects. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Deep cover above 400 metres. Excellent ski-touring, if a bit gloopy at lower levels. ICING: Definitely improved, however getting to it is still a problem with the amount of snow. COMMENT: Skis recommended for travel in the area. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------