NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS FRI 3/3/06 Snow showers have crossed the mountains on light Northerly winds. Deep soft snow lies on all aspects and altitudes. Poor visibility restricted observations but on an Easterly aspect at 1100 metres tests showed many weakly bonded layers within the snowpack. The avalanche hazard is High (Category 4). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SAT 4/3/06 Snow showers are to continue on moderate Northerly winds with very cold temperatures. The snowpack will remain weakly bonded and avalanches will occur on many steep slopes above 600 metres. South-East to South-West aspects will be especially affected. The avalanche hazard will be High (Category 4). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Bottomless powder at all levels. ICING: It's down there somewhere. Very cold temperatures continuing. COMMENT: Careful navigation needed near corniced edges, skis and snowshoes a big advantage for travel. LOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS FRI 3/3/06 Light snow showers and North-Easterly winds prevailed today. Areas of moderately bonded snow are present on many slopes, notably on steep South-East, South and South-West aspects above 1000 metres. Isolated patches of unstable windslab have accumulated on scarp slopes with a South-West aspect above 1000 metres. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SAT 4/3/06 A moderate Northerly wind overnight will back North-Westerly by Saturday, with light snow showers. Unstable windslab will continue to form on steep South to South-East aspects and in sheltered gullies above 1000 metres. Areas of moderately bonded snow will still be present on many slopes. Greatest accumulations will be on steep South-East, South and South- West aspects above 1000m. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Main accumulations above 600m. ICING: Freezing level around 100m. Climbable ice present. Cliffs are white. COMMENT: Cold conditions will continue over the weekend. GLENCOE AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS FRI 3/3/06 Cold mainly dry and settled conditions have affected the area overnight and today. Much of the snowpack is stable but deeper accumulations of older windslab remain in sheltered locations. These areas are mainly in sheltered summit gullies and scarp slopes with an East to Southerly aspect above 1000 metres. The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SAT 4/3/06 It will remain cold with strong Northerly backing North- Westerly winds with the possibility of snow showers throughout the period. General snowpack stability will be good apart from areas where windslab forms on steeper slopes where bonding will be poor. Unstable accumulations will be greatest in summit gullies and scarp slopes with an East to Southerly aspect mainly above 900 metres. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Main cover above 600 metres. ICING: Freezing level 100 metres overnight rising to 400 on Saturday. Ice and rime forming on higher rocks and paths. COMMENT: Glencoe classic ridges and buttresses popular this week. Fresh windslab and corniced areas will require great caution. SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS FRI 3/3/06 Snow showers and drifting are adding new accumulations to the layered windslab that is present on E through S to SW aspects above 700 metres. Shear tests indicated extremely unstable snow and faceted crystals were present in the weakest layer. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SAT 4/3/06 Snow showers on fresh to strong winds will continue to load windslab on to E through S to SW aspects above 700 metres. New accumulations will cause additional loading and weak faceted crystals will be present. Cross-loaded deposits will be found in multi-aspected features. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3) and avalanches are likely in steeper locations. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Good coverage but the new snow lacks a base at lower elevations. ICING: Ice is present but be clever with your route choice this weekend. COMMENT: Off-piste skiers seen triggering a small slab release on a SE aspect today. CREAG MEAGAIDH AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS FRI 3/3/06 Very cold North-West winds fed in some snow showers during the night and early on Friday. Cold temperatures continue to encourage the growth of weak facetted crystals in the snowpack, mainly on East-North-East to South East aspects above 850 metres. They are now more pronounced and widespread and have formed a very weak buried layer beneath a thin fragile crust. This crust is overlain by up to 50cms of recent slab. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). Cornice and avalanche debris noted beneath steep Easterly aspect in Coire Dubh and Coire nan Gall. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SAT 4/3/06 It will remain cold with snow showers on North-West winds. Cold temperatures will assist the development of buried weak layers. Any new slab that builds on East-North-East to South aspects will continue to weaken a delicated poised snowpack, and avalanches are likely. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Best above 750m. ICING: Improving all the time. COMMENT: Gully exits not a good place to be at present. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------