NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SAT 10/2/01 Full blizzard conditions prevail, with heavy snow above 500 metres on very strong Southerly winds. There has been some stabilisation of pre-existing slab layers, but the new slab, which has been created on all Northerly aspects, shows very poor stability. Cornices now exist above many aspects, with those above North-facing slopes being particularly unstable. The avalanche hazard is High (Category 4). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SUN 11/2/01 The heavy snow will give way to showers overnight, but a rise in freezing levels will trigger widespread avalanche activity. Avalanches will occur on all Northerly aspects due to instability of the new slab and on all aspects because of persistent deep- seated weaknesses. Some avalanches will have long run-out and some locations as low as 650 metres may be affected. The period of instability is likely to persist through daylight hours on Sunday. Cornices will be unstable. The avalanche hazard will be High (Category 4). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: All levels. Some areas wind- scoured. ICING: Will deteriorate with rising temperatures. COMMENT: Few braving the higher slopes today. LOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SAT 10/2/01 Strong S winds have started to distribute snow on to many sheltered aspects. Areas of dense windslab have formed on sheltered NE through to NW aspects above 800 metres. Greatest accumulations are on sheltered steep slopes, gullies and hollows. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). Fresh cornices forming. AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SUN 11/2/01 Strong SW winds with snow showers will form fresh windslab on sheltered NW through to NE aspects above 900 metres. Greatest accumulations will be on sheltered steep slopes, gullies and corrie headwalls. The snowpack will become increasingly unstable as temperatures rise, with snow turning to rain at lower levels. Wet snow instabilities will be present below 900 metres on many aspects. Avalanches are likely. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). Cornices prone to collapse. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Fresh snow today from 700m. ICING: Thawing at all but the highest levels by Sunday. COMMENT: Strong winds remaining into Sunday. GLENCOE AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SAT 10/2/01 A strong mild South-Westerly airflow has brought heavy snow above 400 metres. New soft slab is weakly bonded to existing unstable windslab on North to East facing slopes and sheltered gullies. These deep layered deposits sheared easily during field tests. Sluffs were observed coming down NC Gully from scarp slopes. With heavy snow falling all afternoon the avalanche hazard has become High (Category 4). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SUN 11/2/01 Snow showers and rising temperatures will affect the existing weak bonds within the snowpack. Deep layered windslab lying on North to East facing slopes and in summit gullies will become highly unstable. Large unstable cornices will form and avalanches will occur. The avalanche hazard will be High (Category 4). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: New snow above 400m. ICING: Ice remains on rocks and paths above 200m. COMMENT: Blizzard conditions becoming more showery. Ridges and buttresses the safer option. SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SAT 10/2/01 New deposits of soft slab are to be found in sheltered locations of some W but mainly on NW through to NE aspects. Two mountain hares crossing a steep convex area triggered an avalanche towards observers on a NE aspect. It should be noted that the failure layer was within the existing snow at a depth of around 30cm and contained facets. The avalanche hazard is High (Category 4). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SUN 11/2/01 The arrival of milder conditions will bring an overnight rise in freezing levels. Any snow will be light but will turn to rain up to around 900 metres. Overnight will see the greatest period of instability on all aspects down to valley level. This will begin to stabilise the snowpack but unstable areas will persist throughout the forecast period. The avalanche hazard will be High (Category 4) and avalanches will occur. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: From valley level. ICING: Poor observation conditions, most likely still under snow. COMMENT: Careful route selection required in thawing conditions. Loch Muick road is still well blocked from cattle grid. CREAG MEAGAIDH AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS SAT 10/2/01 Heavy drifting of existing snow on a gale force South-South- East wind has caused accumulations of highly unstable windslab to form on sheltered lee slopes of a North-West to North-East aspect above 800 metres. Cross loading is also affecting sheltered areas on East aspects. With heavy snow beginning to fall at the time of writing, avalanche hazard is increasing. The avalanche hazard is High (Category 4). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK SUN 11/2/01 Further light snow showers above 900 metres on a gale force South-West wind, will continue to load windslab on to sheltered lee slopes of a North-West through North-East to East aspect above 900 metres. Temperatures will be relatively mild causing these fresh windslab deposits to remain unstable and cornices to be weakened. The avalanche hazard will be High (Category 4) and wet slab avalanches will occur. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Snow at all levels. Becoming soggy below 600 metres. ICING: Remains good. All but the steepest ice remains buried in snow. COMMENT: Very poor visibility today (10.2.01.). Milder conditions expected. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------