•England Club Fields

•Mountain Weather

•Mountain Forecast Discussion

•Webcams and Weather Stations

Areas of precipitation with mountain snow continue to come in on strong wind overnight. Glencoe was open to the top on Friday - has a head start for the weekend, as visibility prevented meaningful storm recovery work in the East and it will be a case of assessing what is possible in the morning!

If you have been out on slopes please send photos to the email at the foot of this page!

Over the past 24 hours the heaviest precipitation was just to the South and East of Glenshee, around the perimeter of Glas Maol area, radar data suggests somewhere between 18 to 24cm of new snow, but less than half that towards the Cairnwell. But the snow was not really landing where it was falling to put it mildly! Western aspects are loading up, so Meall Odhar and Glas Maol itself should have caught a decent pile of snow.

On CairnGorm it was whiteout conditions above mid station, so even if there was not more snow and wind due tonight, the situation higher up is really an unknown until Saturday morning. All the Eastern areas are confident of operating lower nursery slopes at least, but even these may have a delay depending on just where the snow level is overnight. At update the A939 Lecht Pass was closed, while the A93 Cairnwell Pass was open. The freezing level is sitting about the top of Claybokie, with dew point indicative of snow falling to at least road level.

On Friday Glencoe was open to the top, having had the least wind with the recent SE direction. Saturday will be more ESE or even Easterly, which means it will be a bit more blustery and snow could be loading into the likes of the Rock Garden and Etive Glades. Just what can open on the upper mountain will depend on visibility which has been very poor in recent days. Snow showers are expected to ease up during Saturday morning, with the possibility of some brighter spells developing, so if it does clear up the upper mountain could be great fun. Lower down runs are filling in again across the Plateau, Old Mugs Alley has a complete base and a partial base exists elsewhere on the Plateau. Radar data suggests around 10-12cm of new snow in the past 24 hours around Glencoe.

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.

Back in the East the only limited lift served action was the beginner magic carpet at Daylodge level in Coire Cas.

Overnight it looks like Glencoe could see another 5cm of so of new snow, while Glenshee could potentially see upwards of 15cm.

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.

:: 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/ .

:: Mountain Weather

At 8pm in the West at the Glencoe SSC hut at 850m the mid mountain temperature was -0.2°c, wind was 22 gusting 33mph. At the Top of the Access (671m) it was +1.2°c. At Base level (366m) it was +3.4°c.

The SAIS summit AWS on Aonach Mor was reporting -1.6°c. The Met Office station was reporting a variable wind at 12 gusting 38mph. At the CIC Hut (680m) it was +2.0°c. At Tulloch Station (237m) the temperature was +4.7°c.

In the East the CairnGorm Met Office Summit AWS reported -2.3°c with an Easterly at a mean of 40 gusting 58mph. At Aviemore the temperature at 8pm was +3.9°c.

The Met Office Cairnwell AWS (3061ft /934m) reported -0.3°c with an Easterly at a mean of 39 gusting 55mph.

:: 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.

Persistent hill snow is set to continue for the Cairngorms overnight and into Saturday, but both precipitation intensity and wind strength are expected to lessen somewhat, particularly to the Northern Cairngorms. In the West Highlands, snow showers AM should ease with possibility of some brightness developing near the West Coast. Wind speeds around 30 gusting 40 to 45mph, but 50 to 55mph in and near heavier precipitation. If wind veers more SE, speeds may pick up again in the Northern Cairngorms on and downslope of the Plateau areas. Munro Level temperature fluctuating between near zero and -2°c.

At this stage Sunday looks to have more promise for lift served snowsports in the East, given it will be going into an unknown on Saturday morning! 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.. 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 due to very deep cold sinking into North America firing up the jet stream.!

:: 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.