General Situation // Scottish Ski & Winter Activity Report // Winterhighland

Only Glencoe was able to open for snowsports on Thursday (such can be the nature of SE winds), with fresh tracks to be had in the Main Basin, but the Plateau Runs were becoming patchier. However snow was falling down onto the Plateau by afternoon, so things should be improving at all levels overnight.

Glenshee has already made the decision to stay closed on Friday and along with the Lecht and CairnGorm have suspended ticket sales till after Saturday for the time being. The Lecht and CairnGorm will review in the morning. At update the freezing level has for a number of hours being sitting close to the summit of the Cairnwell and Lecht Passes ( and thus also the West Coast access lifts), so snow should be falling to at least slightly below the lower slopes, but at time of posting both the A939 and A93 were open. That may change if the freezing level falls back a bit further as the wind will cause considerable drifting.

Over the course of the night and through Thursday there will have been a net gain at mid to upper level and net loss on the lower slopes. Going forward tonight and through Fridya should see gains at all levels of the snowsports areas.

At update there has been a lull in the precipitation towards the East, with more focus on the Southern Highlands, and at time of writing, Glencoe was catching the most snow of the five snowsports areas. Radar data suggests that since snow started falling on the upper slopes, that Glenshee should have seen around 7-10cm and Glencoe 12 to 15cm. Forecast models suggest totals for Glenshee over the next 36 hours to be anything upwards from 20 to 25cm at the low end of the scale, while the data the SAIS project possibly 70cm in parts of the Southern Cairngorms reporting area.

Basically by the weekend the snow situation on the hills as of mid-week will be old history!

Glencoe usually fares best in SE winds, but there are limits and at higher speeds exact direction can be critical, but Glencoe is probably the best gamble again for Friday, but there is a catch, the Cliffhanger will be required to access the upper mountain and that lowers the wind threshold somewhat.

If heading to Glencoe for sledging it is advisable to arrive before 2pm at the latest for sledging to get a decent amount of time on the hill. First chair up at 9am, last chair up at 3.45pm and last chair down at 4pm. Sledgers keep in mind, the Access Chair will be busier at the end of weekend days with snowsports underway.

All facilities at Nevis Range have been closed since Monday 5th January, including the base area. There is no lift assisted access to Aonach Mor for tourers or winter climbers at this time.

:: Lift Ticket Info / Weekend preview

Currently the Eastern Areas have suspended online ticket sales until at least Sunday. This is really a watch and see how Friday plays out and then consider the latest forecasts for Saturday!

With big snow totals possible, it is a case of get ready to go if the weather allows at the weekend.

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:: England Club Fields

All club fields are waiting for new snow to arrive.

For both Weardale and Allenheads, you need to join the club with a season pass, these are still available for both at this time.

Please check club access rules / availability if not a club member / pass holder.

Weardale: https: //skiweardale.com/ .
Allenheads: http://ski-allenheads.co.uk/ .
Yad Moss: https: //yadmoss.co.uk/ .
Raise: https: //www.ldscsnowski.co.uk/ .

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:: Mountain Weather

At 10pm in the West at the Glencoe SSC hut at 850m the mid mountain temperature was -1.4°c, no wind data due to suspected anemometer icing during rain/snow transistion. At the Top of the Access (671m) it was -0.2°c. At Base level (366m) it was +1.7°c.

The SAIS summit AWS on Aonach Mor was reporting -3.6°c. The Met Office station was reporting a South wind at 27 gusting 76mph. At the CIC Hut (680m) it was -0.1°c. At Tulloch Station (237m) the temperature was +3.8°c.

In the East the CairnGorm Met Office Summit AWS reported -4.2°c with a Storm Force South Easterly at a mean of 55 gusting 84mph. At Aviemore the temperature at 10pm was +3.7°c.

The Met Office Cairnwell AWS (3061ft /934m) reported -1.8°c with an Easterly at a mean of 53 gusting 80mph.

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:: Mountain Forecast Discussion

The prolonged Met Office Yellow Warning for rain spanning continues through to end of Friday covering a swath of the East and SE Highlands.

As the snow level drops below the lower slopes, heavy snowfall and drifting could start to affect the East Coast access roads. So keep abreast of the developing weather situation.

Friday sees the sustained heavy precipitation continue in the SE Highlands, but perhaps less intense and becoming more showery further North and West, but that will partially depend on wind speed and exact direction. Minus 2°c at Munro Level, possibly lowering -3°c.

Persistent hill snow is set to continue for the Cairngorms on Saturday, but both precipitation intensity and wind strength are expected to lessen somewhat. But with speeds still likely to be widely 35 to 40 with gusts to 50 and likely 65mph plus on and near the Cairngorm Plateau, visibility will be appalling with any elevation and may limit any storm recovery work that is required. There is some uncertainty about the freezing level also, which will impact the extent of work required to reopen / keep open the East Coast Access Roads.

At this stage Sunday looks to have more promise for lift served snowsports in the East, at this stage it looks like the wind will back Easterly, which in itself will reduce the wind speed CairnGorm is likely to see vs SE winds. At this stage expect snow showers to continue, potentially still merging into some longer spells of hill snow in the South and East, but to the North and West some brighter or sunny interludes possible. Expecting Munro Level temperature to be between -3 and -1°c.

It looks as if the wind will veer back towards the SE to start the new week, maybe a degree less cold for Monday. Exact wind direction will determine focus of the heavier hill snow. The balance of forecast model data is for below average temperatures next week, and trending down gradually next week, however there is a big spread behind that average trend and the ensembles have a suggestion of just about anything is possible!

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:: Webcams and Weather Stations

Lowther Hill: Leadhills webcam is online (24/7).

GLENCOE: All mountain webcams online and the first updated images are from the Top of the Access Chair shortly after 7am, other cams come on by 8am. The mid mountain weather station wind direction is not working, other data valid.

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