NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS TUE 28/2/06 Heavy snow showers and very cold temperatures have affected the mountains. The new snow is lying at all levels and Northerly winds have deposited deep accumulations on Easterly to Southerly aspects above 550 metres. On a Southerly aspect at 750 metres tests showed very weakly bonded layers within the snowpack. Newly formed cornices also triggered easily on these aspects. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK WED 1/3/06 Frequent heavy snow showers on strong Northerly winds with very cold temperatures will affect the area. Deep accumulations of weakly bonded snow will continue to develop and avalanches will occur mainly on steep Easterly through South to South-West aspects above 600 metres. North facing gullies and crag aprons will also be affected. The avalanche hazard will be High (Category 4). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Snow at all levels, waist deep drifts forming in places. ICING: Overnight temperatures reached as low as minus 10.3. COMMENT: Bitterly cold on the hill today. LOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS TUE 28/2/06 Snow showers and North-Westerly winds have prevailed in the area today. Unstable windslab has accumulated in gullies, on scarp slopes and crag aprons with an East to South aspect above 1000 metres. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). Unstable cornices are also present above these aspects. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK WED 1/3/06 Snow showers and strong Northerly winds are expected overnight and during Wednesday. Unstable windslab will continue to accumulate and avalanches are likely on steep slopes and in gullies with an East to South aspect above 1000 metres. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Fresh snow at all levels, mainly above 600m. ICING: Cliffs are white. Ice is developing. Freezing level falling to sea level on Wednesday. COMMENT: Snow showers expected to be infrequent. GLENCOE AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS TUE 28/2/06 Cold conditions with snow showers and strong North-Westerly winds have formed accumulations of unstable windslab in sheltered locations. These areas are mainly to be found in sheltered summit gullies and scarp slopes with a North-East to Southerly aspect above 1000 metres. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK WED 1/3/06 It will remain cold with very strong Northerly winds. Occasional snow showers will affect the area throughout the period. These showers and wind transport of existing snow will produce unstable windslab in sheltered locations. These accumulations will be greatest in summit gullies and scarp slopes with a North- East through South to South-Westerly aspect mainly above 900 metres. Where these accumulations attain any depth or have formed on older re-frozen snow bonding will be poor. Windward slopes will become scoured and icy in places giving good stability. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Main cover above 500 metres. ICING: Freezing all levels overnight and on Wednesday. COMMENT: Windy on the tops. SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS TUE 28/2/06 The strong winds have stripped all loose snow from exposed slopes leaving them firm and icy. The frequent snow showers have accumulated unstable windslab in very sheltered locations only on SE to SW aspects above 750 metres. Observers triggered two small slab avalanches on SW aspects at 900 metres and debris was noted from two naturally triggered avalanches on SE aspects at 850 metres. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK WED 1/3/06 It will remain cold with snow showers falling on very strong winds. Unstable windslab will continue to form in very sheltered locations only on SE to SW aspects above 700 metres. Accumulations will be deep and poorly bonded and avalanches are likely in steeper locations. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). Exposed slopes will be windblown and icy. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Windblown and icy in all exposed locations. Deep drifts on sheltered S aspects. ICING: Climbing has improved on some aspects. COMMENT: Most slopes are scoured but where fresh snow is present it can be deep and unstable. CREAG MEAGAIDH AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS TUE 28/2/06 Very cold and strong North to North-West winds carried frequent snow showers in to the area. Heavy drifting has created new accumulations of multi-layered soft windslab in excess of 1 metre deep on very sheltered South-East to Southerly aspects above 600 metres. Bonding is very weak and low additional loads readily propagate deep fractures in this new snow. Stability is poor on all steep North-East through South to South-West aspects above 600 metres. Wind-exposed ground has been scoured down to crusty snow-ice. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK WED 1/3/06 It will remain very cold with strong North West to Northerly winds and snow showers that will be heavy at times. Weakly stabilised windslab will continue to build on all North-East through South to South-West aspects above 600 metres, where avalanches are likely. Very deep slab accumulations are expected on the most sheltered corrie backwalls and gully tops. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). Wind- exposed slopes will be scoured back to crusty snow-ice. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Heavy drifting above 500m. ICING: Projected summit temperature on Weds.: minus9. COMMENT: Small snow slides triggered on minor terrain features at 600m on Tuesday. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------