NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS THU 9/3/06 Snow showers and South-Easterly winds have affected the area. The snowpack has refrozen and formed a crust on all aspects above 800 metres. New deposits of drifted snow have formed unstable windslab accumulations on West to Northerly aspects above 900 metres. Avalanche activity was noted on a North-Westerly aspect above 950 metres. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK FRI 10/3/06 Overnight strong East- South-Easterly winds are expected with occasional snow-showers. During the day the wind will continue strong and become South-Easterly with moderate snowfall. The freezing level will be at 400 metres. Accumulations of unstable windslab will form on Westerly to Northerly aspects above 400 metres where avalanches are likely. Unstable accumulations will form especially on corrie rims and in gullies. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Good snow cover with crust makes for interesting walking ! ICING: Some re-freezing has taken place on cliffs. COMMENT: More snow expected. LOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS THU 9/3/06 Colder temperatures overnight have formed a stable surface on the existing snowpack. During today, light snow showers and South Easterly winds have started to form very localised areas of fresh unstable snow. These deposits are generally restricted to the tops of West and North-West aspects above 1100m. The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK FRI 10/3/06 Snow showers and moderate South-East winds are expected overnight and during Friday. Localised areas of unstable snow will continue to form in sheltered locations. Greatest accumulations will be at the tops of West, North-West and North facing slopes and gullies above 1000m. The avalanche hazard will be Moderate (Category 2). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Some fresh snow falling today on the tops. ICING: Old snow surface re-frozen above 800m. COMMENT: GLENCOE AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS THU 9/3/06 A melt-freeze cycle overnight was followed by milder conditions today with light snowfall above 850 metres. Much of the snowpack is stable but the new snow and Southerly winds are forming localised shallow deposits of soft slab in sheltered locations above 900 metres. These areas are mainly in sheltered summit gullies and scarp slopes with a North-West to North- Easterly aspect where the avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK FRI 10/3/06 Colder conditions will affect the area overnight and on Friday. The existing moist snowpack will become more stable with a surface crust forming in many areas. Fresh winds mainly from the South-East and light snow showers will form unstable shallow windslab in sheltered areas. These accumulations will mainly be around the tops of gullies and on scarp slopes with a West through North to North-Easterly aspect above 900 metres. They are not expected to be deep or extensive but bonding to underlying older snow will be poor on steep slopes. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Main cover above 700 metres. ICING: Freezing level 600 metres overnight lowering to 400 on Friday. COMMENT: Becoming colder with occasional or very light new snow. SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS THU 9/3/06 The freezing level has lowered to around 900 metres with soft wet snow present below this altitude. Above 900 metres the snow has re-frozen and has a firm crust. In deeper accumulations on E through S to SW aspects above 900 metres drier moderately bonded snow is present. The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK FRI 10/3/06 Light snow showers will start to form new accumulations on W to N aspects. These will be moderately bonded where they acquire depth over older snow-ice. Moderately bonded snow will be found in deeper accumulations on E through S to SW aspects above 900 metres. The avalanche hazard will be Moderate (Category 2). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Patchy wet snow below 900 metres today. Firm re-frozen snow above this height. ICING: Rapid melt freeze cycle will have improved the situation. COMMENT: Some good ski touring is present but most routes to the valley are now broken. CREAG MEAGAIDH AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS THU 9/3/06 There were cooler temperatures overnight with rain to near summits during Thursday. Wet surface snow instability remains on all North-West through North to East aspects above 800 metres. Cold temperatures deeper in the snowpack are maintaining the presence of a buried weak layer. Clean and easy shears were noted in this and a wet surface layer during field tests. The avalanche hazard remains Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK FRI 10/3/06 Snow showers on stronger South-East winds are forecast for overnight and Friday. Colder temperatures will assist the consolidation of the wet surface snow on East to South aspects but also help maintain the persistent buried weak layer. New, marginally-bonded windslab build up is expected on steep North-West to North-North-East gully tops and corrie rims. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Wet snow up to 1000m on Thursday. Plateau cover remains good. ICING: Freezing at 600m overnight and 400m during Friday. COMMENT: Looking wintry for the week-end. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------