NORTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS MON 6/1/03 There have been clear skies over an inversion in the Strath. Southerly winds have deposited significant accumulations into the top of the North aspect slopes in the Northern Corries: downslope distribution has also increased. There is a steep temperature gradient in the upper snowpack. Shears were noted above the old crust. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK TUE 7/1/03 There will be no new snow but wind transport will continue mainly on to North aspects above 1000 metres. The nature of the slab is quite variable in these areas. Some pockets of this slab on steep unsupported terrain will have only fair stability. Facet development will occur in the upper snowpack due to continuing cold temperatures. This will over time weaken the snowpack. The avalanche hazard will be Moderate (Category 2). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Still large areas of deep fresh snow, these can be slow going on foot. ICING: Forming nicely in water courses. COMMENT: Ideal conditions for looking at the interesting forms of snow crystal in the snowpack. LOCHABER AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS MON 6/1/03 The continuing cold and settled weather has had little effect on the existing snowpack. Isolated shallow deposits of windslab are present on top of old snow patches, mainly at the tops of W aspects. These accumulations are generally localised and easily avoided. On other aspects, a thin dusting of snow and rime exists. The avalanche hazard is Low (Category 1). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK TUE 7/1/03 Cold conditions with a SE wind will see little change over the next 24 hours. Isolated shallow deposits of windslab will be present, mainly at the tops of W aspects and restricted to where they overlie old snow patches. These accumulations will be localised and easy to avoid. Elsewhere the snow pack will be hard frozen and stable. The avalanche hazard will be Low (Category 1). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: No3, 2, Gardyloo and Tower gullies giving the best cover on the Ben. ICING: Freezing at all levels. Garadh and Waterfall Gully hold the most ice on the Ben, still thin though. COMMENT: Remaining cold, mixed routes on Aonach Mor look the best bet at the moment. GLENCOE AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS MON 6/1/03 The snow cover is still very thin and limited. Some deeper areas of snow exist above 900m: these are mainly in sheltered areas and on the higher Northerly slopes and in deep gullies. However there is not enough snow to create an avalanche hazard. Colder conditions have stabilised the older snow patches and also produced verglas on rocks and paths. The avalanche hazard is Low (Category 1). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK TUE 7/1/03 It will remain cold with fresh South-Easterly winds and no precipitation. The sparse frosty snowpack will remain stable. The greatest accumulations of snow will be in sheltered locations but mainly on slopes with a northerly aspect above 900m. The avalanche hazard will remain Low (Category 1) with ice on rocks and paths. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Snow above 300m. Deeper areas of snow above 900 metres mainly in sheltered gullies with a Northerly aspect. ICING: Freezing at all levels. COMMENT: Buttresses and ridges offer some reasonable winter climbing conditions. Most gullies are still very thin. SOUTHERN CAIRNGORMS AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS MON 6/1/03 Snow cover is generally thin but most aspects have areas of drifting. Above 600 metres there is a mix of hard and soft windslab. Consolidation is taking place but is slow. Deeper areas are to be found in sheltered locations on S through to NW aspects above 800 metres with deposits on steeper slopes remaining weakly bonded. The avalanche hazard is Considerable (Category 3). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK TUE 7/1/03 It will be another fine and dry day so little will alter in the snowpack. Windslab stability will remain suspect in steeper sheltered locations on many aspects. The deeper areas will be found on S through to NW aspects above 800 metres. The avalanche hazard will be Considerable (Category 3). Cover elsewhere will remain generally superficial. CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Thin cover from valley level. Deeper drifts on S through to NW aspects. ICING: Watercourses are starting to freeze. COMMENT: Trail breaking still required in remoter locations. CREAG MEAGAIDH AVALANCHE HAZARD 1500 HRS MON 6/1/03 It has remained cold and dry with light South-Easterly winds. There has been no change to the current sparse snow conditions. Snow cover is thin above 700 metres with occasional pockets of soft snow in grassy or rocky hollows. The ground is well frozen but snow accumulations are so thin as not to cause a hazard. The avalanche hazard is Low (Category 1). AVALANCHE HAZARD OUTLOOK TUE 7/1/03 As it will remain fine and dry with a cold South-Easterly airflow, there will be little change to the current sparse snow conditions. Thin cover will persist on all aspects above 700 metres with pockets of soft snow in grassy or rocky hollows, however deposits will remain so shallow as not to cause a hazard. Even the bigger gullies like Easy and Raeburn's will be incomplete with rocky chockstones. The avalanche hazard will be Low (Category 1). CLIMBING CONDITIONS SNOW DISTRIBUTION: Thin above 700 metres. ICING: Ice building on many routes but it's not quite there yet. Fun icefalls can be found. COMMENT: We seem to have more frost than snow! -------------------------------------------------------------------------------