NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS MON 6/3/06 Poor visibility during the morning gave way to a fine sunny day with light North winds and cold temperatures. The snow lies at all altitudes and aspects with the deepest accumulations on Easterly to Southerly aspects above 600 metres. During tests on a South aspect at 1100 metres many weakly bonded layers were noted within the snowpack. Substantial loading is still affecting some steep Northerly slopes especially on crag aprons. The avalanche hazard is High (Category 4). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK TUE 7/3/06 Snow showers overnight on moderate Southerly winds will become much lighter during the day. Snow will drift to leave weakly bonded accumulations on North-West to North-East aspects above 950 metres. Instabilities will remain on steep Easterly to Southerly aspects above 600 metres. Avalanches will occur in all these areas. The avalanche hazard will be High (Category 4). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Hard going underfoot. Sastrugified on exposed slopes; deep and soft elsewhere. ICING: Much digging required. COMMENT: Full winter wonderland mode today! LOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS MON 6/3/06 Fine and bright conditions prevailed in the area today. Snowpack stability is generally good but weakly bonded windslab is still present on steep East to South aspects above 1000 metres, mainly on scarp slopes and in summit gully exits. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK TUE 7/3/06 Snow showers and Southerly winds are expected overnight, then drier conditions and South-Westerly winds during Tuesday. Current instabilities on steep East to South aspects above 1000 metres will remain. Areas of unstable windslab will accumulate on steep North to North-East aspects above 1000 metres: scarp slopes and sheltered gullies in particular will be affected. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Above 600 metres. ICING: Ice routes are been climbed but some need more build up, freezing level rising to 600 metres tomorrow. COMMENT: Fantastic ski touring conditions today. GLENCOE AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS MON 6/3/06 Isolated light snow showers overnight were followed by dry and settled conditions today. 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 through to Southerly aspect above 1000 metres. The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK TUE 7/3/06 There will be moderate snowfall overnight becoming dry for most of Tuesday. Fresh to strong South veering South-Westerly winds will form unstable windslab in sheltered areas. Unstable accumulations will be greatest in summit gullies and scarp slopes with a North-West through North to Easterly aspect mainly above 850 metres where avalanches are likely. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Main cover above 600 metres. ICING: Freezing level 200 metres overnight rising to 600 on Tuesday. Ice and rime forming on higher rocks, paths and watercourses. COMMENT: Windslab and corniced areas will require caution. SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS MON 6/3/06 It was a sunny day but it has remained cold. Windslab exists on E through S to SW aspects above 700 metres where faceted crystals have continued to develop and weaken snow stability. Observers triggered a cornice and slope 25 metres wide and 75 cm deep on a S aspect at 900 metres. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). Exposed areas are wind scoured. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK TUE 7/3/06 There will be a change to the recent weather pattern with snow showers falling from the S. New accumulations on N aspects will be moderately bonded with greatest hazard remaining on E through S to SW aspects above 700 metres. Moderately to weakly bonded layers will remain in deeper areas of windslab. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). Elsewhere exposed areas will remain scoured. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Greatest cover is on E to S aspects, may improve with some showers in lighter winds. ICING: Not lots around, some buried. COMMENT: Starting to warm but remaining cold on tops. CREAG MEAGAIDH AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS MON 6/3/06 There were some overnight snow showers and Monday was dry and bright with very light winds. After a period of very poor stability, sunshine brought a little warmth to the surface layers of the snowpack and encouraged some marginal consolidation on South-East to Southerly aspects. Weak buried layers remain deeper in the snowpack, in particular on shaded North-East to East facing slopes and gullies above 850 metres. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). Recent avalanche debris noted below all East-North-East to South East aspects in Coire a' Chriochairein and below an East aspect in the Inner Coire of Coire Ardair. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK TUE 7/3/06 Snow showers on South to South-West winds are expected overnight on on Tuesday. Wind transport of existing snow in addition to new snowfall will lead to the development of significant quantities of weakly-stabilised windslab on steep North to East aspects. Deepest deposits will be on sheltered gully tops and corrie rims above 850 metres where avalanches are likely. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Good plateau cover. ICING: Freezing at 200m overnight and 600m on Tues. COMMENT: Mountaineering parties seen sticking to easier ridge lines. Post Face and the Inner Corrie deserted (for good reasons). -------------------------------------------------------------------------------