NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SAT 11/2/06 There have been snow showers on strong South-Westerly winds. Accumulations of windslab have developed on North to Easterly aspects above 950 metres. On a North-East aspect at 1050 metres a very weak layer of depth hoar was present at ground level beneath the new windslab. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SUN 12/2/06 Light snow on South-Westerly winds overnight will turn to rain during the day as the wind backs to the South. Due to the rise in temperatures the snowpack stability will decrease and avalanches are likely on steep North through East to South-East aspects above 950 metres. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Deep drifts developing on lee slopes. ICING: Freezing level rising to 1300m. COMMENT: Depth hoar deposits are localised but will present a potentially serious weakness if the snowpack becomes saturated. LOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SAT 11/2/06 There have been fresh snow deposits above 600 metres today, with a moderate Southerly wind. Large drifts are present in sheltered areas. Windslab is accumulating on North-West to North-East aspects and instabilities are present where it lies on the old snowpack, generally on scarp slopes and in sheltered gullies above 900 metres. Avalanche activity was observed on a North-Easterly aspect at 1100 metres. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SUN 12/2/06 Light rain or snow showers overnight will turn to rain and milder conditions, with a South-Westerly wind on Sunday. As the freezing level rises the snowpack will become saturated. During this time avalanches are likely where the accumulations of unstable windslab are present, mainly in sheltered gullies and on scarp slopes above 900 metres with a North-West to North- East aspect. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Above 600 metres. ICING: Some rime present. Ice still lean. Comment: Feels like winter on the hill. GLENCOE AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SAT 11/2/06 Heavy snow showers accompanied by strong Southerly winds have affected the area. Accumulations of unstable snow and windslab have formed in many sheltered locations especially in and around the tops of gullies. The greatest deposits of unstable snow are above 800 metres on slopes with a North-West to North-East aspects. The snowpack is weakly bonded on many steep slopes and the avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SUN 12/2/06 Snow showers and strong South-West winds during Saturday night will give way to much milder conditions and heavy rain during Sunday. Freezing levels will rise significantly to above the summits. The snowpack will become saturated at all levels leaving it unstable and weakly bonded on many slopes but especially those with a Northerly aspect. Avalanches are likely in these areas. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: New snow above 450m. ICING: Freezing level rising to 1800 metres. COMMENT: Climbing conditions poor. Buttresses and ridges the safer option but care needed on approaches and descents. SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SAT 11/2/06 Snow showers arrived in the area by early afternoon but new deposits have yet to achieve any depth. On SE to SW aspects above 950 metres deeper deposits still contain moderately bonded layers. These deeper deposits exist in sheltered locations and are localised and mostly avoidable. The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SUN 12/2/06 The freezing level will rise to 1300 metres by Sunday afternoon with any light snow showers eventually turning to rain. The recent deposits that exist on SE to SW aspects above 950 metres will generally become well bonded but the rising temperatures may produce some surface instability on the steepest terrain. The avalanche hazard will be Moderate (Category 2). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Deeper drifts on SE to SW aspects with thin cover from 700 metres generally. ICING: Still lean but turf is frozen. COMMENT: Mitre Ridge received an ascent from a keen team yesterday. CREAG MEAGAIDH AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SAT 11/2/06 It remained cold overnight with snow showers accompanied by mostly Southerly winds during Saturday. Recent firm to hard windslab has been overlaid by fresh snow on many aspects above 800 metres. Isolated accumulations of the moderately bonded more recent deposits have developed in gully tops and on steep corrie back walls and rims, particularly of Northerly aspects. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SUN 12/2/06 Further snow showers overnight will turn to rain at all levels in milder conditions during the day. A maximum summit temperature is expected of around plus 6 degrees Centigrade. With thaw conditions and heavy rain, cornices mostly on East to South-East aspects will become unstable and any collapse will add a significant load to slopes below, where wet snow avalanches are likely. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: A general light cover of snow down to 600m, more widespread above 850m. ICING: Recent improvement looks to be short-lived. COMMENT: Thaw at all levels will bring an additional hazard of falling ice. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------