NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS MON 2/1/06 The snowpack has been affected by the warming temperatures during the day and has continued to stabilise. Weaknesses still remain where the snow lies on a hard icy layer on steep slopes at gully exits and corrie rims on West through North to Easterly aspects above 1000 metres. The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK TUE 3/1/06 Overnight, rain will fall on the summits carried by strong South-Westerly winds. This rain will stop by morning and the freezing level will drop to 800 metres. The snowpack will generally re-freeze and consolidate further. Weaknesses may still persist in localised areas on steep slopes on corrie rims and gully exits above 1000 metres on North-West through North to Easterly aspects. The avalanche hazard will be Moderate (Category 2). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: An improving snowcover, especially on plateau and tops. ICING: Buttresses are looking whiter. COMMENT: A colder day tomorrow. LOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS MON 2/1/06 Localised areas of soft unstable snow are still present, mainly on steep slopes above 1100m with a North and North-East aspect. Elsewhere the snowpack is generally stable.The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK TUE 3/1/06 Rain at all levels overnight will be replaced by dry and cooler conditions during Tuesday. The existing areas of unstable snow will stabilise overnight as the thaw becomes established. As the freezing level lowers during Tuesday, the snowpack will gradually re-freeze and become generally stable. The avalanche hazard will be Low (Category 1). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Snow level around 1000m. ICING: Freezing level rising above the summits overnight and lowering again during Tuesday. COMMENT: GLENCOE AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS MON 2/1/06 Mild overcast and wet conditions have left the snowpack moist and moderately bonded. Above 950m some accumulations of windslab exist in sheltered summit gullies and on slopes with a North-West to North-Easterly aspect. Where these deeper accumulations lie on steep slopes the avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK TUE 3/1/06 Heavy rain and gale force South-West winds will affect the area during Monday night. Conditions should start to improve during Tuesday winds becoming Westerly and moderating with cooler temperatures. The snowpack will become moist at most levels and wet snow instabilities will exist. Where deeper accumulations of snow exist in summit gullies and on steep North-West to North-Easterly slopes above 900 metres bonding will be poor. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). During Tuesday the snowpack will consolidate as freezing levels lower. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Snow above 650m. ICING: Freezing level 1500 metres becoming 800m. COMMENT: Mild wet weather will reduce snow cover. SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS MON 2/1/06 Snow cover is generally thin with deeper drifts in sheltered locations on mainly W to N aspects above 900 metres. Deeper areas are soft but stability is good. The avalanche hazard is Low (Category 1). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK TUE 3/1/06 Overnight rain at all levels will be followed by clearer and cooler conditions. Above 800 metres deeper soft snow which is mainly in sheltered locations on W to N aspects will re-freeze and remain well bonded and stable. The avalanche hazard will be Low (Category 1). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Cover is thin with deeper patches, slightly better on some higher plateau areas. ICING: Subject to thaw overnight but some is likely to survive. COMMENT: Thaw-freeze cycle may help improve the climbing. CREAG MEAGAIDH AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS MON 2/1/06 Recent new snow that is present on steep North-West to South- East aspects above 800 metres overlies much harder snow-ice. Field tests produced moderate, ragged shears in the newer snow and there was also evidence of some early consolidation in the milder, moist conditions. The avalanche hazard remains Moderate (Category 2). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK TUE 3/1/06 The weather on Tuesday will be cooler and much drier but this will be preceded by a period of heavy rain on Monday night. Snow stability on steep North-West through East to South-East facing slopes and gullies will be poor for a time overnight when heavy rain sets in, but will improve with onset of colder, drier conditions. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Better cover above 600m. ICING: Footpaths pretty lethal in places. COMMENT: Period of poorest stability likely to be overnight Monday with significant improvement expected as the weather becomes clearer and colder on Tuesday. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------