LOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS FRI 10/3/06 Colder temperatures are continuing to stabilise the older wet snowpack. Snow showers and moderate South-East winds are forming fresh areas of unstable snow. Accumulations are variable in depth and location and are generally confined to sheltered West, North-West and North aspects above 1100m. Elsewhere the snowpack is generally stable. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SAT 11/3/06 Light snow showers and moderate South- East winds will continue overnight and during Saturday. Localised areas of unstable fresh snow will continue to form in sheltered locations. Main accumulations will be on sheltered West, North-West and North aspects above 1100m. Elsewhere the snowpack will be generally stable. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Some localised accumulations of fresh snow above 1000m. ICING: Old snow surface slowly re-freezing above 700m. COMMENT: Many routes receiving ascents on Ben Nevis today. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- GLENCOE AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS FRI 10/3/06 Much of the snowpack is stable with a breakable surface crust forming. New snow and South-Easterly winds are forming localised deposits of windslab in sheltered locations above 1000 metres. These areas are mainly around the tops of sheltered summit gullies and on scarp slopes with a West to North- Easterly aspect where the avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SAT 11/3/06 Colder conditions will affect the area overnight and on Saturday. The existing snowpack will become more stable as the surface crust continues to develop in many areas. Strong winds mainly from the South-East and light snow showers will form weakly bonded windslab in sheltered areas. These accumulations will mainly be in sheltered gullies and on scarp slopes with a West through North to North-Easterly aspect above 800 metres. Bonding will be poor on steep slopes and corniced areas where significant accumulations develop or where older snow ice underlies. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Main cover above 700 metres. ICING: Freezing level 300 metres overnight and on Saturday. COMMENT: Becoming colder with occasional or very light new snow. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS FRI 10/3/06 Fairly frequent snow showers and drifting are forming new accumulations in sheltered locations on mainly SW to NW aspects above 700 metres. These new deposits are locally deep and are moderately to weakly bonded. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SAT 11/3/06 Overnight snow showers will become less frequent during Saturday but strong winds will continue to drift loose deposits. Moderately to weakly bonded windslab will be found on SW through NW to N aspects above 600 metres. More sheltered locations will hold greatest amounts. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). Elsewhere the old snow will be firm and icy in places. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Good cover above 900 metres. Well broken below 700 metres but some fresh snow from 600 metres today. ICING: Very poor visibility today. 300 metre freezing level forecast for Saturday. COMMENT: Minus 6 degrees at 1000m on Saturday. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- CREAG MEAGAIDH AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS FRI 10/3/06 South East winds fed in regular snow showers from 0300hrs onwards on Friday. Deep accumulations of soft, multi-layered windslab have formed on very steep NW to NNE aspects above 900m. Although not yet extensive, depths in excess of 50cms were measured on a very sheltered NW aspect at 970m. Bonding is poor and this new slab shears easily. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). Surface snow on all wind exposed aspects above 700m is now better bonded and characterised by a crust of variable hardness. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SAT 11/3/06 It will become colder with stronger SE winds and some snow showers. The covering of soft, fresh snow that lies in most places above 600m will be re-deposited as windslab on steep, sheltered NW to NNE aspects above 850m. Slab amounts in these places will increase and become more extensive; stability will be poor and avalanches are likely. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). The snow-ice crust that is developing on wind-exposed E to S-facing slopes will become harder. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Soft, fresh snow lying above 600m - some of this covers a treacherous, breakable crust. ICING: Staying cold: freezing level 300m. COMMENT: Plas y Brenin and Glenmore Lodge groups here in numbers at the moment. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS FRI 10/3/06 Cold temperatures and snow showers on South-East winds have affected the area. Drifting has led to unstable windslab forming on Westerly to Northerly aspects above 950 metres. The deepest accumulations lie on corrie rims, gully heads and crag aprons. Elsewhere the snowpack is frozen and wind scoured. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SAT 11/3/06 It will be very cold with occasional light snow on moderate South-East winds. Drifting will continue to form weakly bonded windslab onto Westerly to Northerly aspects above 950 metres. Corrie rims, crag aprons and gully heads will be especially affected. Elsewhere the snowpack will remain windscoured an icy. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Still good cover. Frozen sastrugi formations and ice on plateau makes ski travel unpleasant. ICING: Climbing improving, but insecure axe placements at times due to breakable crust. COMMENT: Windslab cornices forming on many gully exits on W to N aspects. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------