NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SUN 19/3/06 It has been a mild day with moderate North-East winds and drizzle at all levels. There is a thin rain crust on the snow surface and beneath this the sub-surface layers are beginning to thaw. The snowpack is consolidating but instabilities still exist where deep accumulations lie on steep West to North aspects above 950 metres. When tested on a Westerly aspect at 1100 metres some easy releases were noted within the snowpack. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK MON 20/3/06 Light snow overnight will be followed by snow showers during the day on moderate Northerly winds, and the freezing level will fall to 250 metres. The existing snowpack will re-freeze and stabilise. New accumulations of weakly bonded windslab will affect South-East to South-West aspects above 800 metres. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Good cover of soft spring snow above 600 metres. ICING: Should improve after today's thaw followed by a re-freeze. COMMENT: Poor visibility in the hills today. LOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SUN 19/3/06 In the area today no significant fresh snow has been deposited, and moderate North-Easterly winds have prevailed with thaw conditions at all levels: this has moistened and softened the snow. The snowpack is consolidating and stability is generally good but moderately bonded layers are present above 1000 metres, mainly on steep scarp slopes and in gully exits with North-West through North to East aspects. The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK MON 20/3/06 Cold conditions, moderate North-Easterly winds and snow showers are expected overnight and during Monday. The snowpack stability will be generally good due to re-freezing overnight but unstable windslab will accumulate in sheltered areas and on steep South to West aspects above 700 metres. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Cover above 700m. Snow showers expected to lower levels tomorrow. ICING: Rime on high cliffs, freezing level above summits today dropping to 300m tomorrow. COMMENT: Sub-zero temperatures expected into next week. GLENCOE AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SUN 19/3/06 Dry conditions with North-Easterly winds have affected the area maintaining a generally stable snowpack. Some small localised accumulations of windslab still exist in some sheltered locations. The greatest accumulations of moderately bonded snow are on W through N to NE aspects above 900 metres but especially around the tops of sheltered gullies and on steep scarp slopes. The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2) elsewhere the snowpack is generally well bonded. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK MON 20/3/06 Mainly dry conditions will prevail through Sunday night then very light snow showers will arrive during Monday with North-Easterly winds. New accumulations are not expected to be significant, sustaining a stable snowpack. However some localised areas of moderately bonded snow may exist around the tops of sheltered gullies and on steep scarp slopes with SW through N to NE aspects above 900 metres. The avalanche hazard will be Moderate (Category 2). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Main cover above 750 metres. ICING: Freezing level 550 metres becoming 300 metres. COMMENT: The snowpack should re-freeze overnight. Generally dry with the chance of the odd snow shower. SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SUN 19/3/06 It has been slightly milder than in recent days which has softened surface layers at all levels. Consolidation continues throughout the snowpack with most slopes holding well bonded snow. Drier moderately bonded snow can be found in deeper deposits on SW to NW aspects above 900 metres. The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK MON 20/3/06 It will be a cooler day with snow showers at all levels. Surface layers will refreeze and new accumulations will be found in sheltered areas on SE to SW aspects. Where these deposits have reasonable depth and overlie re-frozen snow on steeper slopes instabiliies will exist. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Good cover from 700 metres. ICING: Slight thaw today that will help ice formation. COMMENT: Visibility has been generally poor again, not likely to be great on Monday either. CREAG MEAGAIDH AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SUN 19/3/06 Sunday was a bright for a time but some light drizzle affected the higher tops. Stability was good in most places. Moderate but inconclusive shears were noted deeper in the colder snowpack on North-West aspects above 850 metres and near surface layers became moister. The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK MON 20/3/06 Colder weather with more frequent snow showers and Northerly winds will affect the area on Monday. Colder temperatures will encourage further consolidation in the snowpack on West through North to Easterly aspects and stability will remain good in these places. New weakly bonded windslab will accumulate on steep South-East to South-West facing slopes above 850 metres. The avalanche hazard will rise to Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Remaining good above 600m. ICING: Coire Ardair busy again today. COMMENT: Mmmm..warm, fuzzy spring ski-touring type feelings are starting to well up. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------