NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS FRI 10/2/06 It has been a cold, dry, sunny day with light Northerly winds which became variable and stronger during the afternoon. Firm slab lies on East to South aspects above 950 metres and when tested on an Easterly aspect at 1120 metres some instability was noted between the soft and firm slab layers. The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SAT 11/2/06 It will be dry overnight with light snow showers on strong Southerly winds during the day. Instabilities will continue to affect the deepest and most extensive snowpack which lies on East to South aspects above 950 metres. Deposits of new slab will form at the tops of gullies and corrie rims on North facing slopes. The avalanche hazard will be Moderate (Category 2). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: A thin cover at all levels, deeper and more extensive on East to South aspects. ICING: Buttresses nice and white, corries looking very wintry. COMMENT: Windier and more unsettled tomorrow. LOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS FRI 10/2/06 Shallow areas of unconsolidated fresh snow are present mainly on aspects above 1000m. Localised instabilities are present on many steep slopes, notably where these deposits overlie older snow. The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). A fairly continuous stream of spindrift was observed coming down Zero Gully on Ben Nevis. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SAT 11/2/06 Fresh snow and moderate Southerly winds are expected overnight and during Saturday. New unstable snow deposits will form mainly on all Northerly aspects above 1000m. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Fresh snow lying above 600m. ICING: Many ice routes are in "thin" condition. COMMENT: Freezing level expected to rise above the summits during Saturday evening. GLENCOE AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS FRI 10/2/06 Dry conditions have continued to affect the area with Northerly winds. Isolated shallow accumulations of windslab have formed in sheltered locations but mainly around the tops of gullies with an E to SE aspect above 850 metres. Some instability exists where the deeper deposits of windslab have formed on steeper slopes. Elsewhere the snowpack is stable. The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SAT 11/2/06 Snow showers and strong Southerly winds will affect the area. New snow accumulations, the greatest being on Northerly aspects above 600 metres, are not expected to be very extensive. Windslab will form especially in sheltered locations but more especially around the tops of sheltered gullies above 850 metres. On NW to NE aspects instabilities will exist where deeper windslab is present on steep slopes. The avalanche hazard in these locations will be Moderate (Category 2). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: New snow above 700m. ICING: Freezing level rising to 900 metres. COMMENT: Climbing conditions still thin but ridges and buttresses offer some winter sport. Becoming milder and rain can be expected at lower levels. SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS FRI 10/2/06 Moderately bonded windslab can be found in very sheltered locations on SE to SW aspects above 950 metres. Deeper deposits are localised and tend to be found at the very top of scarp slopes, corrie rims and gully exits. Generally the cover remains thin and windblown. The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SAT 11/2/06 Snow showers on Saturday will start to form fresh deposits on NW to NE aspects. New deposits will be unstable where they form over the old snow that is mainly to be found above 950 metres. Although some drifting will occur accumulations are not expected to be great. Moderately bonded windslab will persist 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: Climbing remains lean but turf is mostly frozen. COMMENT: Slightly milder by Saturday afternoon. CREAG MEAGAIDH AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS FRI 10/2/06 It has been cold overnight with dry, bright and cold conditions again during Friday. Deposits of hard slab exist at the top of many steep East to South-facing corrie backwalls and gully tops. Stability is generally good on most aspects although, on a steep South Easterly slope at 950 moderate shears within surface layers were still evident. The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SAT 11/2/06 It will be stay dry and cold overnight before the arrival of snow showers with moderate Southerly winds on Saturday. As the day progresses, with the development of any significant new accumulations above 850 metres on steep, mostly North facing corrie backwalls and gully tops, the avalanche hazard will increase to Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Very light cover of snow down to 600m, more widespread above 850m. ICING: Crags looking wintrier but still fairly lean conditions. COMMENT: Becoming milder, any rain at summit levels on Saturday will indicate the trigger point for the period of poorest stability. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------