NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS WED 1/3/06 There have been heavy snow showers on moderate Northerly winds with very cold temperatures. Snow is lying at all levels with deep accumulations forming on most aspects. The deepest snow lies on Easterly through South to South-West facing slopes above 600 metres. On a Southerly aspect at 950 metres a cornice triggered easily and tests showed a very weakly bonded snowpack. The avalanche hazard is High (Category 4). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK THU 2/3/06 Further snow showers will cross the mountains on moderate Northerly winds. Weakly bonded snow will continue to develop and avalanches will occur on many steep slopes. Easterly through South to South-West aspects above 600 metres will be especially affected. The avalanche hazard will be High (Category 4). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Snow at all levels with deep accumulations forming on many aspects. ICING: Buried COMMENT: Snow shoes or skis a big advantage for travel. LOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS WED 1/3/06 Areas of unstable snow are present mainly on steep East, South- East and South aspects above 1000m. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK THU 2/3/06 Snow showers and light winds will continue overnight and during Thursday. Areas of unstable snow will continue to form, mainly on steep East, South-East and South aspects above 1000m. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Fresh snow at all levels although main accumulations are above 600m. ICING: Ice and rime continuing to form on the crags. COMMENT: Settled cold weather continuing. GLENCOE AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS WED 1/3/06 The cold North-Westerly winds have continued with only trace amounts of new snow. Much of the snowpack is stable but deep accumulations of unstable windslab remain in sheltered locations. These areas are mainly to be found in sheltered summit gullies and scarp slopes with an East to Southerly aspect above 1000 metres. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK THU 2/3/06 It will remain cold with strong North-Westerly winds overnight becoming fresh and variable during Thursday. Isolated snow showers will affect the area throughout the period. Where deep windslab exists in sheltered locations stability will be poor. These accumulations will be greatest in summit gullies and scarp slopes with an East to Southerly aspect mainly above 1000 metres. 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 level 100 metres. COMMENT: Fair outlook for Thursday. SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS WED 1/3/06 Snow showers on slightly lower wind speeds have allowed more widespread snow coverage to develop. Moderately to weakly bonded windslab is present on some E aspects but more predominantly on SE to SW aspects above 700 metres. Overnight debris was noted from a large open slope avalanche that occurred on an ESE aspect at 800 metres. New cornices are very fragile. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK THU 2/3/06 Snow showers on fresh to strong winds will continue to form unstable windslab on E through S to SW aspects above 700 metres. Due to the more widespread distribution of new snow the avalanche hazard will include open slopes as well as more sheltered locations. Scarp slopes and gully exits are likely to provide the greatest hazard. Avalanches are likely in all these areas. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Much improved cover on E through S to SW aspects. Waist deep drifts in places. ICING: Buried on above mentioned aspects. Staying cold. COMMENT: Deep powder is now widespread. A good strong swimming action is required on certain aspects! CREAG MEAGAIDH AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS WED 1/3/06 Steady sequences of snow showers were carried in to the area on strong, cold North-West winds. Weakly-stabilised soft windslab lies on all steep, sheltered North-East through South to South-West aspects above 750 metres. Field tests revealed very easy multiple shears in new and old slab. The deepest deposits lie high on corrie backwalls and gully tops where stability is very poor. New, fragile cornices hang over many of these locations. Wind-exposed aspects have been scoured down to crusty snow-ice or iced up grass and heather. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK THU 2/3/06 It will remain cold with more snow showers on easing North and North-West winds. Weakly stabilised windslab will continue to build on all steep North-East through South to South- West aspects above 750 metres, where avalanches are likely. Very deep slab accumulations are expected on the most sheltered corrie backwalls and gully tops. Newly formed, fragile cornices will continue to threaten these places with high additional loading. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Heavy drifting again on Weds. ICING: Heavy snow showers hindered accurate observation. COMMENT: -------------------------------------------------------------------------------