NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SUN 5/3/06 Snow showers have continued on moderate Northerly winds. Unstable cornices and large accumulations of weakly bonded windslab exist on Easterly through South to South-West aspects. Tests on a Northerly aspect at 950 metres showed very weakly bonded layers within the snowpack. Recent avalanche debris was reported from a North-East aspect at 950 metres. The avalanche hazard is High (Category 4). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK MON 6/3/06 Temperatures are to remain very cold and snow showers on moderate North-Westerly winds will die out during the morning as the wind backs to the South. Weakly bonded windslab will affect many steep slopes especially Easterly through South to South-Westerly aspects above 600 metres. There will also be substantial loading on Northerly aspects. Avalanches will occur in all these areas. The avalanche hazard will be High (Category 4). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Firmer windblown snow on exposed slopes; elsewhere up to your oxters! ICING: Mostly buried. COMMENT: Potential for serious loading on N aspects if the Southerly wind picks up. LOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SUN 5/3/06 Today North-Westerly winds and occasional snow showers prevailed, some showers falling as graupel. Unstable windslab is present on steep East to South aspects above 950 metres, mainly on scarp slopes and in gully exits. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK MON 6/3/06 Snow showers and moderate North-Westerly winds are expected overnight, then conditions will become dry and settled by Monday. Windslab will continue to accumulate on lee slopes overnight and instabilities will remain on steep East to South aspects above 950 metres. Main areas that will be affected are scarp slopes and gully exits, where avalanches are likely. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Above 600m. ICING: Cliffs in good shape, turf frozen, ice improving. Some routes still lean. COMMENT: Winds are expected to back South later on Monday. GLENCOE AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SUN 5/3/06 Cold North-Westerly winds with isolated light snow showers overnight have affected the area. Much of the snowpack is stable but deeper accumulations of soft slab and shallow fresh windslab exist in sheltered locations. These areas are mainly in sheltered summit gullies and scarp slopes with a North-East to Southerly aspect above 1000 metres. The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK MON 6/3/06 It will remain cold with strong North-Westerly winds and snow showers overnight. Winds will moderate and showers will die out by morning. General snowpack stability will be good apart from areas where windslab and deeper soft slab exist 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 200 metres. Ice and rime forming on higher rocks, paths and watercourses. COMMENT: Windslab and corniced areas will require caution. Subtle weaknesses are developing within the deeper snow pack due to prolonged cold temperatures. SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SUN 5/3/06 Windslab has continued to develop in sheltered locations above 700 metres with greatest depth to be found on E through S to SW aspects. There are multiple shears in the snowpack but of particular note was the poorly bonded surface layers and in some locations unstable cornices. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). Exposed areas are wind scoured. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK MON 6/3/06 There will be further snow showers but the winds will begin to ease. Windslab will be found in sheltered locations with greatest amounts on E through S aspects above 700 metres where it will be moderately to weakly bonded. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). Elsewhere exposed areas will remain scoured. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Sheltered tracks and features holding snow from valley level. Exposed areas scoured. ICING: Not lots around, some buried. COMMENT: Ski touring remains good, some trails have improved with `traffic'. CREAG MEAGAIDH AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SUN 5/3/06 Snow showers and North-Westerly winds have loaded fresh snow on to lee slopes. Debris from numerous natural releases was observed on an open slope with a South-East aspect above 850 metres in Coire Dubh. New snow instabilities are widespread and stability tests on an Easterly aspect produced easy shears in surface layers. The avalanche hazard is High (Category 4). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK MON 6/3/06 There will be further snow showers with cold temperatures persisting overnight and during the day. The fresh North-West winds will continue to load additional windslab on to East- North-East to South aspects, in particular on steep gully exits and around coire rims. Avalanches will occur wherever new slab build up is greatest in these places. The avalanche hazard will be High (Category 4). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Still relatively poor at lower elevations but good in plateau areas. ICING: Loose unconsolidated snow covers most build up. COMMENT: Wintry but perhaps looks better than it is. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------