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

Wind speeds uncertain for Saturday, partly as degree of gustiness will depend on convective shower intensity. Mean speeds should be similar to Friday, but gusts could range from 45 to a risk of potentially 65mph!

On Friday Glencoe was able to run the Access Chair for sightseers, sledging and ski tourers, but was unable to run any higher lifts for lift served snowsports as it was too windy for either the Rannoch or Cliffhanger Chairs. A similar situation is possible Saturday, but the snow conditions should be good on the open terrain with more snow tonight and showers topping things up during the day. The problem is mean wind is expected to ease somewhat later in the day, but shower activity pick up increasing the gustiness! It?s going to be a gamble, so have a plan B!

CairnGorm briefly had the top tows and M1 Poma open on Friday morning, but these gradually closed down due to increasing wind. That left skiing from the funicular, plus trainer tow by the Top Station. Skiing on the White Lady was great with some fresh snow, but getting to / down the Traverse was a battle! Again Saturday might be a repeat of just the train for main runs, but even that would be a no go if gusts where towards the upper end of various forecasts.

The West has seen the most new snow so far this week, but is been a freeze / thaw roller coaster, but a net gain overall. Mid mountain is really just for access though things are starting to fill in again.

The good news is that the weekend wind will ge accompanied by new snow, potentially 35 to 45cm on some higher terrain in the West. Snow levels will fluctuate a bit, so degree to which the Plateau at Glencoe and carpark runs at CairnGorm start to fill in is uncertain. The bad weather news is that Sunday looks a howler on the wind front, uplift looks very unlikely unless forecasts shift!

Glencoe has only been suitable for stronger intermediates and above recently and the Cliffhanger and mid mountain is primarily for access. The upper mountain is in fantastic shape. The Plateau Cafe and sledge park are open daily if the chairlift is open. Sledge Park is full length and in great shape. Ski School lessons can also operate on snow on the Plateau.

For mixed ability groups and those looking for green to easier intermediate terrain then CairnGorm is the better option as it offers top station to mid station riding from the Funicular and has selection of green terrain at the top of the mountain.

On CairnGorm the White Lady retains a wide and deep base and was superb with a top of windblown fresh snow on Wednesday. The Traverse is in good shape, as is the Gunbarrel and the top legs of the Zig Zags, but the main bed of Coire Cas itself is very narrow in places, a typical symptom of the prevalence of SE winds early in the season, regularly stripping out the Upper Cas and dumping the snow in the Gunbarrel! Thus the Cas Tow has been closed to provide more space for coming down, but the upper Cas was beginning to fill out a bit more again.

Glenshee and the Lecht are currently closed for snowsports. Indeed it is likely Glenshee is now closed for the season, it is much less likely to come back as we approach and move into April, whereas the Lecht can and has come from nothing to open in May!

At update the A939 Lecht Pass and the A93 Cairnwell Pass were open.

:: Glencoe Sledge Park

The Sledge Park is full length and in good shape thanks to snow making from the snow factory. There are over 150 sledges to grab at the Plateau Cafe! It is advisable to arrive before 2.30pm at the latest for sledging to get a decent amount of time on the hill. First chair up at 9am, the sledge park is always quietest before lunch time. Last chair down scheduled for 4.30pm. The Plateau Cafe is open daily when the Access Chair is running.

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:: England Club Fields

All the club fields are waiting for new snow to be able to reopen.

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 6pm in the West at the Glencoe SSC hut (850m) the temperature was -1.6°c, no wind data is available. At the Top of the Access (671m) it was 0.0°c. At Base level (366m) it was +2.3°c with the wind at 7 gusting 21mph.

The SAIS summit AWS on Aonach Mor was reporting -4.4°c. The Met Office station was reporting a SW wind at 30 gusting 53mph. At the CIC Hut (680m) it was -1.0°c. At Tulloch Station (237m) the temperature was +2.4°c.

In the East the summit weather stations on CairnGorm reported -5.4°c, with a Storm Force Westerly at a mean of 55 gusting 71mph. At Aviemore the temperature at 8pm was +2.2°c.

The Met Office Cairnwell AWS reported -1.7°c with a West wind at a mean of 29 gusting 50mph.

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:: Mountain Forecast Discussion

Further bands of hill snow look likely to move in through Friday night with Gale Force winds, so there will be considerable drifting. Around 0 to -1°c at Munro Level. Precipitation will ease to showers Saturday AM. Wind speeds look to be around 30 gusting 45mph, with higher gusts in heavier bursts of snowfall, risk gusting 55 to 60mph and risk 70mph for the Northern Cairngorms and Nevis Range mountains. Minus 2°c at Munro level. Showers tending to ge more intense in the afternoon.

It looks like the start of British Summer Time on Sunday will be far from spring like, let alone summer like! Unless the forecast detail or timing shifts, uplift at any of the ski areas looks doubtful for Sunday with forecast models ranging from Severe Gales to Hurricane Force winds for the most prone areas.

Monday looks set to continue a fairly stormy theme, while there will be some fluctuation in freezing level, further accumulation of new snowfall is anticipated on at least higher terrain for Highland mountains.

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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 shortly before 6am. Sledge Park camera streams overnight. The mid mountain weather station wind direction is not working, other data valid.

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