NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS TUE 5/2/02 Overnight snow at all levels on strong Westerly winds gave way to a fine day with moderating winds, although still with some drifting at higher elevations. Many plateau areas are wind- scoured and hard-frozen, but pockets of instability exist in recent slab on all aspects. On a South-East facing test site at 1100 metres, repeated easy shears were observed in multi- layered surface slab. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK WED 6/2/02 Snow showers on strong North-West winds will persist into the morning. This will add loading to existing instabilities on mainly East and South aspects above 900 metres. Some areas of poor stability will also persist on other aspects above this altitude. Scarp slopes, convex corrie headwalls and gully heads will be most affected. Avalanches will occur in areas of greatest new accumulation. The avalanche hazard will be High (Category 4). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Cover on N and E aspects much improved. ICING: Thaw-freeze of recent days helping things. COMMENT: A very soft layer exists under surface slab. LOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS TUE 5/2/02 Colder conditions overnight have helped the consolidation process. However significant deposits of weakly bonded slab are present, mainly on steep slopes, gullies and scarp slopes above 800m. Distribution of this slab is highly variable with deposits occurring on most sheltered aspects. Greatest accumulations are on NW through to NE to E aspects. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK WED 6/2/02 Strong NW winds with moderate amounts of snow overnight will see fresh accumulations of unstable snow form. Greatest accumulations will be on sheltered gullies, corrie headwalls, and scarp slopes with E to SE through to S aspects above 800m. Avalanches are likely, particularly where these fresh accumulations form over older sheltered unstable deposits. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Snow lying above 600m on Tuesday ICING: Improving, but still thin. Mega Route X nearly touching the floor, thin at the top though! COMMENT: Frequent spindrift avalanches on the Ben today, mainly around Observatory Ridge, Trident Buttress and above the Shroud. Winds easing on Wednesday. GLENCOE AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS TUE 5/2/02 Milder temperatures overnight brought a period of rain, sleet and hail, moistening the snowpack at all levels. Cooler conditions with no precipitation today have started to re-freeze the surface of the snowpack improving the general stability. Where deep accumulations of snow exist particularly in sheltered gullies some weaknesses are present deep within the snow. These are due to previous melt-freeze layers. The avalanche hazard is Moderate (Category 2). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK WED 6/2/02 Colder conditions with North-West winds and occasional snow showers overnight will affect the area. As the surface of the existing snow cover firms up stability and general conditions will continue to improve. New snow will form areas of windslab on sheltered North-East through to South facing slopes and in the tops of sheltered gullies: it should be noted that these areas are not expected to be deep or extensive. The avalanche hazard will be Moderate (Category 2) CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Snow above 700m ICING: Above 850m. COMMENT: Colder conditions will continue to improve climbing conditions on the higher routes. Snowed up classic buttress routes receiving ascents on Tuesday. SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS TUE 5/2/02 A brief melt freeze cycle at around 900 metres helped consolidate snow at this level. Above this altitude drier moderately to weakly bonded snow was to be found mainly on N through to E aspects but also in sheltered locations. Scarp slopes and gully exits hold deeper accumulations. Cornices remain suspect. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK WED 6/2/02 Show showers and winds from the NW will lead to accumulations on sheltered locations on E to S aspects. Stability will be poor on E and SE aspects above 950 metres with gullies holding deeper unstable deposits. Avalanches are likely on steeper slopes with the avalanche hazard Considerable (Category 3). Cornices will remain suspect. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Best above 900 metres. ICING: Could do with a few more melt freeze cycles. Buttresses holding snow. COMMENT: Snow showers will ease mid-morning. CREAG MEAGAIDH AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS TUE 5/2/02 Heavy overnight snow combined with continued drifting on a strong South-Westerly wind has accumulated deep areas of weakly bonded windslab. North-West through North to East aspects above 750 metres hold greatest deposits although cross loading has also affected South-East aspects. Weak sub-surface layers are present and debris from numerous natural loose snow avalanches was observed on North-East and East aspects. The avalanche hazard is High (Category 4). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK WED 6/2/02 Moderate snowfall on a strong North-West wind will continue through the forecast period. Weakly bonded windslab will persist on North-West aspects for a time, but as re-distribution continues deep weakly bonded windslab deposits will affect North through East to South-West aspects above 750 metres. Easterly aspects will be particularly affected. The avalanche hazard will remain High (Category 4) and avalanches will occur. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Good cover above 750 metres. ICING: Mostly buried and poor. COMMENT: Huge cornices have formed above sheltered aspects. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------