NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS TUE 14/3/06 The snowpack has generally become more stable due to a re-freezing of the snowpack overnight. Warm temperatures to summit levels during the day will moisten the snowpack further and help the stabilisation process. Instabilities remain in the snowpack above 950 metres, in the windslab accumulations that have formed on mainly North to Easterly aspects. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK WED 15/3/06 Moderate South-Easterly winds with snow showers are expected overnight and during the day. The freezing level is expected to fall to 500 metres then 400 metres in the daytime. The snowpack will re-freeze and generally become more stable. New accumulations of snow falling during the showers will form unstable windslab on mainly West to Northerly aspects above 600 metres, where avalanches are likely. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Good snow cover, spring snow on sunny aspects. ICING: Snow has firmed up. COMMENT: Colder temperatures with snow expected. LOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS TUE 14/3/06 Occasional snow showers and South-Easterly winds affected the area during the day. Areas of unstable snow are present, mainly on steep North- West, North and North-East aspects above 1000 metres. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). Unstable cornices are also present above these aspects. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK WED 15/3/06 Snow showers and moderate South-Easterly winds are expected overnight and on Wednesday. Current instabilities will remain on many aspects and further accumulations of weakly bonded windslab will form in sheltered locations, in particular, steep West through North to North-East aspects above 1000 metres. Avalanches are likely in these areas. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Main cover above 750m. ICING: Some ice lines remain. COMMENT: Conditions for climbing expected to improve. GLENCOE AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS TUE 14/3/06 Below 900 metres milder conditions have consolidated the snowpack. Above 900 metres weakly bonded deposits windslab still exist in many sheltered locations. The greatest accumulations of unstable snow are on NW to NE aspects but especially around the tops of sheltered gullies and on steep scarp slopes. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK WED 15/3/06 Light snow showers will fall on South-Easterly winds. This will deposit light accumulations of new shallow windslab into sheltered areas. These new deposits are not expected to be significant. Bonding will be moderate on steep slopes, gullies and scarp slopes mainly on West through North to North-Easterly aspects above 850 metres. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Main cover above 750 metres. ICING: Freezing level 400 metres. COMMENT: Slightly cooler conditions. Ridges and buttresses are still the safer option. SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS TUE 14/3/06 Overnight snow has been followed by a dry day with steadily rising temperatures. Moderately to weakly bonded windslab is present on W through N to NE aspects above 800 metres with sheltered locations holding largest acumulations. Unstable cornices are present. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK WED 15/3/06 Overnight snow showers will develop into more continuous snow by the morning. Strong winds will cause drifting of these new deposits and unstable windslab will form. Moderately to weakly bonded windslab will be found on W through N to NE aspects above 600 metres where avalanches are likely in sheltered locations. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Good cover with deep drifts in places and with exposed areas scoured and icy. ICING: Heavy rime was observed in many locations. COMMENT: The wintry conditions continue. Walk-ins remain demanding. CREAG MEAGAIDH AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS TUE 14/3/06 Overnight snow showers resulted in small quantities of fresh snow accumulating at elevations above 850 metres. It has been dry and mild during the day and some consolidation of the recent layering of the snowpack is evident at lower altitudes. New snow instabilities still exist in the most recent deposits in sheltered gully exits and around steep corrie headwalls and rims on North-West to North-East aspects. The avalanche hazard is High (Category 4). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK WED 15/3/06 It will become colder with additional snow showers - heavier during the day - which will be carried on South-East winds. Stability will remain poor wherever new windslab is loaded on to North-West to North-East facing gully tops and corrie rims above 850 metres and avalanches are likely in these locations. Older slab at lower elevations will show a little early consolidation. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Light general cover above 600 metres. Extensive in plateau areas with deep drifts in sheltered locations. On-going thaw at valley level. ICING: Some development; quality and qauntity still to be confirmed. COMMENT: Still wintry on the tops. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------