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

Tuesday saw the freezing level lift to around the higher tops for a time, this allowed some of the recent hard surfaces to loosen up into granular spring snow, while higher levels on CairnGorm had some wet windblown fresh drifting in. SE winds ramped up as the day went on in the Cairngorms, bringing around an early close to the top tows on CairnGorm and since dusk the wind has increased further, sustained Force 12 South Easterly gusting to 111mph at the Summit Weather Station in the past hour.

Snow will consolidate at firm up at height with a slight lowering of the freezing level, but while new snow will accumulate at upper levels, the lower slopes will see a further slight thaw during Wednesday before the snow level falls back to or below the lower slopes. There is a possibility the freezing level will go just above the summits for several hours in the early hours of Thursday. That may not be entirely bad news, as higher level wet snow that sticks on Wednesday will quickly go through a consolidation cycle that means it stays in place despite the high wind speeds.

Looking at Wednesday, winds will drop back from their overnight peak from the West, the best of the weather for Glencoe looks to be from opening time for several hours, before wind speeds pick up again. CairnGorm is unlikely to get the Top Basin open for more than a couple of hours mid morning, if at all, and it is likely there will be a progressive shutdown through the day as wind speeds ramp up significantly after any transient moderation. If planning heading to CairnGorm, best to gamble on being there for first lift on Wednesday, but have a plan B or be prepared to abort on route!

CairnGorm has already made the call to close fall facilities on Thursday due to forecast wind speeds and the cooler temperatures mean severe drifting off the plateau and down the Windy Ridge will increasingly affect the Ski Road. Friday and Saturday are under review due to some uncertainty over forecast detail.

The Lecht may well be the best bet for a Wednesday slide, overnight rain is forecast to clear mid morning, then it should probably be dry until not long before scheduled closing time. With the recent thaw/freeze leaving the snow more granular, it should be spring snow conditions rather than wet sticky snow on Wednesday and it as the air dries up it should crunch up and improve further into the afternoon. The fenced runs are generally full width, though some links are a bit thin in places. Some worn patches might develop in the milder air / overnight rain, but it looks like there will be a solid base for the incoming snow later in the week.

Glenshee was seeing some hefty gusts by afternoon as the Southerly wind started to funnel through the Cairnwell Pass, this plus milder temperatures with misty drizzle meant a slow thaw was underway. Runs are thin and narrow in places, but still a decent base for what could be considerable new accumulations later in the week. Butcharts Access Poma however is closed until cooler conditions and new snow arrives to patch things up. Granular spring snow was skiing quite nicely even where it didn?t look that pretty! It is likely to be a pretty unpleasant day on the lower, more sheltered slopes at Glenshee on Wednesday with low level rain setting in.

As temperature lowers on Thursday and wind speeds potentially step up further, East Coast access roads could start to be affected by drifting snow. 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 for Thursday and looks like the only chance of lift served riding on Friday, but even there it is by no means certain.

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 the day 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

Due to the forecast for Storm Force winds, CairnGorm and the Lecht have suspended online ticket sales for after Wednesday. Keep an eye on updates / forecasts.

Significant snowfall is anticipated for mountains exposed to onshore wind during the later part of this week, while exact wind direction will determine where sees the greatest accumulations, Glenshee is currently favoured out of the five snowsport areas. Across the East though there is likely to be substantial storm recovery work required even if wind speeds do moderate for Saturday, and there is significant forecast uncertainty on that at present. At this early stage, Sunday looks more promising, but things could change.

• top of page •

:: 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/ .

• top of page •

:: Mountain Weather

At 8pm in the West at the Glencoe SSC hut at 850m the mid mountain temperature was +1.4°c, wind at 29 gusting 48mph. At the Top of the Access (671m) it was +2.9°c. At Base level (366m) it was +5.5°c.

The SAIS summit AWS on Aonach Mor was reporting -0,6°c. The Met Office station was reporting a South wind at 19 gusting 45mph. At the CIC Hut (680m) it was +3.5°c. At Tulloch Station (237m) the temperature was +7.1°c.

In the East the CairnGorm Met Office Summit AWS reported -0.6°c with a Hurricane Force South Easterly at a 89 gusting 111mph. At Aviemore the temperature at 8pm was +6.8°c.

The Met Office Cairnwell AWS (3061ft /934m) reported +0.6°c with a Storm Force South Easterly at a mean of 61 gusting 81mph.

• top of page •

:: Mountain Forecast Discussion

The Met Office have issued a yellow warning for rain spanning three days from late afternoon Wednesday through end of Friday covering a swath of the East and SE Highlands. Wednesday look like seeing a wintry mix as the freezing level fluctuates, but higher terrain on CairnGorm should probably see snowfall throughout daylight hours. There is a chance the freezing level will go above the summits for a spell in the early hours of Thursday, before lowering towards and then below the lower slopes through Thursday and Friday.

Later in the week as the snow level drops below the lower slopes, heavy snowfall and drifting will start to affect the East Coast access roads. So keep abreast of the developing weather situation. Some of the forecast model output is indicative of some mountain locations potentially seeing OVER 3 feet of new snow!

The very high winds overnight Tuesday into Wednesday are expected to moderate for a period, this should be around or soon after dawn towards lift opening time in the West, towards mid morning in the East Highlands. However any respite will be temporary, with the wind ratcheting back up from the South as the day goes on. The best of the overhead is likely to be from mid morning onwards at the Lecht.

Summit snow will fizzle out in the West mid morning, but any following brightness will quickly fade as cloud bases lower, with mountain snow returning before dusk. Around +1 lowering 0 to -1°c at Munro Level, before temporarily rising to +1 or +2 in the early hours of Thursday.

Sustained mountain snowfall throughout Thursday will be heaviest towards the South and Eastern Cairngorms in a curved arc that may extend towards Glencoe and the Southern most parts of the West Highlands. Blizzard conditions, with sustained whiteout at height in widely Storm Force winds, expected to be Hurricane Force on the Cairngorm Plateau and surrounding northern downslopes. Wind speeds also likely to be elevated through the Nevis Range mountains due to topographic acceleration of South Easterlies. Around 0°c at Munro Level pre-dawn, lowering -1°c by early afternoon, lowering -2°c from the East around or soon after dusk.

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.

In the medium term if the SE to ESE flow is sustained, some of the accumulated precipitation totals are in excess of 150mm of rain equivalent by the middle of next week. For the sake of not just the ski areas, but those downstream of the Eastern Cairngorms and Angus Hills, pray for snow!

• top of page •

:: 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.

• top of page •