NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS THU 9/2/06 It has been a grey day with moderate, mainly Northerly winds and poor visibility in the morning. During the day, there has been little drifting and temperatures have remained cold. Recent slab above 900 metres has firmed up and although some graupel and faceted crystals were noted on a South-East facing test site at 1100 metres, fractures showed little tendency to propagate. The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK FRI 10/2/06 Some snow showers are forecast overnight on light Northerly winds. Dry, frosty conditions will prevail during the day, with some sunny spells. New snow accumulations are likely to be small and winds will increase a little Southerly. There will be little change to the snowpack, which is deepest and most extensive on East and South aspects above 950 metres. The avalanche hazard will be Moderate (Category 2). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: A little cover at all levels, but Northerly aspects especially still need more snow. ICING: Some reasonable climbing reported on seepage lines and old snow-ice. COMMENT: Decidedly a more wintry feel. LOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS THU 9/2/06 Areas of unconsolidated fresh snow are present mainly on East, South-East and South facing scarp slopes and gullies above 1100m. The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK FRI 10/2/06 Cold and dry conditions will continue overnight and during Friday. Areas of unconsolidated fresh snow will be present mainly on East, South-East and South facing scarp slopes and gullies above 1100m. The avalanche hazard will be Moderate (Category 2). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Fresh snow above 600m. ICING: Remaining cold at all levels. COMMENT: GLENCOE AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS THU 9/2/06 Dry conditions have affected the area with North-Westerly winds. Shallow accumulations of windslab have formed in sheltered locations but mainly around the tops of gullies with an North-East through East to South aspect above 850 metres. Instabilities exist where the deeper deposits of windslab have formed on steeper slopes, especially in areas where older snow-ice underlies the new snow. The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK FRI 10/2/06 Cold but mainly dry conditions will continue to affect the area with Northerly winds overnight, these becoming Southerly during Friday. On North-East through East to Southerly aspects accumulations of shallow windslab will still be present especially in sheltered locations but more especially around the tops of sheltered gullies above 850 metres. Instabilities will exist where deeper windslab exists on steep slopes and in areas where older snow-ice underlies the windslab. The avalanche hazard will be Moderate (Category 2). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: New snow above 700m. ICING: Getting colder. Freezing at all levels. COMMENT: Climbing conditions still thin but ridges and buttresses offer some winter sport. Should be a sunny day on Friday. SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS THU 9/2/06 It was a cold day with little new precipitation but it stayed windy. Windslab continues to develop in very sheltered locations on SE to SW aspects above 950 metres. These areas have reasonable depth but are generally avoidable. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK FRI 10/2/06 The strong winds will ease but it will remain cold. Recent new accumulations will consolidate slowly. Moderately bonded windslab will be found in very sheltered locations on SE to SW aspects above 950 metres. The avalanche hazard will be Moderate (Category 2). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Thin cover above 700 metres. Localised drifts on E through S to SW aspects. ICING: It will continue to freeze at all levels. COMMENT: Old snow is very firm underfoot at present. CREAG MEAGAIDH AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS THU 9/2/06 Snow showers and North-West winds died out in the early hours to leave a cold, dry and bright day. Recent deep slab lies just below the cornice line at the top of many steep East to South facing corrie backwalls and gully tops. Stability was poor early in the day but improved later. Avalanche and cornice debris were reported below South-East aspect in Coire Choile-rais. Cornice debris also noted below Stob Poite Coire Ardair. The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK FRI 10/2/06 Calm, cold and dry conditions will prevail overnight and on Friday. The newest slab that sits on very steep East to South aspects above 940 metres will show some marginal consolidation. The stability of old exposed and re-frozen snow patches will be good. The avalanche hazard will be Moderate (Category 2). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Thin cover of new snow down to 600m with deeper drifts in places. ICING: Ice beginning to re-form. COMMENT: Freezing at all levels overnight and 500m on Friday. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------