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

Well Saturday was not the day that was forecast, visibility was generally poor apart from on the lowest slopes and the temperature was a degree or so higher than forecast too. This meant a pretty soggy day at Glenshee and the Lecht, while CairnGorm at least got snowed on higher up! At Glenshee the Sunnyside Poma resembled a water ski park by afternoon, and Glenshee was not able to expand the open uplift as hoped for due to the weather and the Butcharts Access Poma and Tom Dearg are not planned to run on Sunday.

Both at Glenshee and low down on CairnGorm, more thin / worn narrow bits as a result of the damp Saturday, but things should dry out overnight. Guess where brightened up and the sun came out for the afternoon, the same place that got the most snow this week. Nevis Range! The data points to at least better than Saturday for overhead, but some higher areas are still likely to see low cloud at least at times.

Over in the West cloud bounced around between the Rescue Shed and Haggis Trap level at Glencoe, the best snow / cover was on the upper Main Basin and Happy Valley, and though they were giving the best turns, people were retreating to mid mountain and the plateau for much better visibility! However, Glencoe is offering the full on mountain vertical of 1400ft. See Saturday Pix from the Slopes for a fuller report.

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.

CairnGorm is able to offer top to Daylodge riding giving 1720ft of vertical on the Cas side and with both the DLP and WWP now open, there is an alternative fast route up for advanced skiers / expert boarders and ski tourer tickets are now available from the ticket office, for 2 surface uplifts. The Carpark Run and lower Daylodge Poma run are thin and worn for stretches with heavier weekend ski traffic in the wet weather on Saturday.

After the big storm cycle at the weekend, the White Lady (red) and Cas Gunbarrel (blue) have a decent base and width, but the upper Cas (as is often the case in wind with an Easterly vector) is narrow, the uptrack and run still separate single groomer width strips in parts. Only OverYonder is currently open to the WWP.

The Lecht has nearly all main runs complete and they are full width between the fences with machine groomed snow, this may start Sunday firmer after the damp Saturday, before loosening up to spring snow. A couple of thinner / narrower bits on links to/from the Eagle area, but generally the fenced runs are in good shape. The nursery slopes by the magic carpets have good cover thanks to the snow making.

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.

:: Weekend Preview and Lift Ticket Info

After recent media coverage of the heavy low level snow in various areas at the start of the year, demand for lift passes last weekend significantly outstripped the available uplift / terrain. Despite a dramatic thaw/freeze cycle last Sunday / Monday, there is more terrain and uplift available this weekend, increasing the number of tickets available.

At update limited tickets were still available for CairnGorm and the Lecht for Sunday. Book in advance as they may well be gone by the time you travel there in the morning!

It is almost a full house of uplift on CairnGorm and as noted above more tickets were released on Friday evening. The Cas Carpark is likely to be full by 9am and shuttle buses will operate from Coire na Ciste from 9am (or before if required) until carparks clear. It is likely the Ciste Carpark will reach capacity, so if possible car share, or consider parking in Aviemore and using the local bus service.

Glencoe has released 500 snowsports tickets for the weekend, with terrain only suitable for lower abilities and more advanced riders, these probably will not sell out.

For intermediate terrain for those comfortable on blue run terrain, CairnGorm is the best option at this time with a selection of longer blue and green runs available, plus particularly for advancing borders, the option of riding much of the vertical and open terrain from the funicular.

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:: England Club Fields

The 3 Pennine Club Fields were able to open last Saturday, with a thin cover of new snow lying on frozen ground.

Weardale managed to open Sunday morning, with a decent covering of new snow overnight, but closed at lunchtime in rapidly deteriorating wet and windy weather. Weardale will not open again until colder temperatures and new snow return. Allenheads did not open as it was raining at the village elevation by morning.

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 9pm in the West at the Glencoe SSC hut at 850m the mid mountain temperature was +0.1°c, wind at 8 gusting 16mph. At the Top of the Access (671m) it was +0.7°c. At Base level (366m) it was +1.7°c.

The SAIS summit AWS on Aonach Mor was reporting -2.1°c. The Met Office station was reporting a South wind at 22 gusting 30mph. At the CIC Hut (680m) it was +2.0°c. At Tulloch Station (237m) the temperature was +1.3°c.

In the East the CairnGorm Met Office Summit AWS reported -2.1°c with a Southerly at a 27 gusting 38mph. At Aviemore the temperature at 9pm was +1.2°c.

The Met Office Cairnwell AWS (3061ft /934m) reported +0.1°c with a South wind at a mean of 16 gusting 21mph.

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:: Mountain Forecast Discussion

With a South to SE flow, wind speeds will freshen at times on and downslope of the Cairngorm Plateau, it was blustery on Saturday, with falling and blowing snow freshening things up in the Top Basin and upper reaches of mid mountain.

Wind speeds are similar to Saturday so providing direction remains similar, hopefully will not cause any uplift issues on Sunday. However wind speeds are set to get stronger into the new week as the pressure gradient tightens between low pressure to the SW of Ireland and high pressure towards Scandinavia. This looks likely to affect higher lifts on CairnGorm and potentially more widely either Tuesday afternoon or Wednesday (where there could be sustained Storm Force winds on the Munros). Keep a close eye on how forecast detail develops if you are planning a slide this coming week.

Sunday is going to see the FL around the upper slopes with 1°c at Munro Level forecast. SE 20 gusting 35mph widely on the Munros, but expect gusts to 50mph on and downslope of the Cairngorm Plateau. Wintry showers into the Southern Cairngorms, some chance of brighter periods at the Lecht, but the odd rain shower may reach. Further West an overcast, but largely dry day is expected and it looks as if the cloud bases should be at least a bit higher than Saturday!

Monday is a rinse and repeat sort of day, but a degree or so colder with the FL back down to around the lower slopes, with -1°c expected at Munro Level. Wind speeds will be nudging up during the day, gusts to 40 to 50mph quite widely on higher terrain, and likely pushing 60mph plus on the Cairngorm Plateau and surrounding Northern downslopes.

The exact position of the blocking high looks increasingly important for the week ahead, closer will dampen precipitation potential and possibly keep winds stronger more generally, while if the low to the SW of Ireland makes slightly more in roads, a frontal system could push against the approaching colder air coming round under the block. There is some model data pointing to potentially significant frontal snow during a period mid-week, but timing and detail uncertain.

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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 will be shortly after 8am. The mid mountain weather station wind direction is not working, other data valid.

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