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

While summer activities should be continuing at CairnGorm, Glencoe and Nevis Range this weekend, it looks like the weather has different ideas with Amy, the first named storm of Meteorological autumn rolling in during Friday afternoon and evening. It is likely that there will be an early end to uplift on Friday, and the best of weather for the whole weekend period will be pre lunchtime on Friday. It is highly unlikely that any uplift dependent activities will operate on Saturday and Sunday remains marginal at best for wind speeds.

Nevis Range has concluded daily lift served mountain biking for the season. The lift served bike tracks are thus only scheduled to be open Saturday and Sunday during October.

However, lift served mountain biking continues daily down the road at Glencoe, with both the red and black downhill bike tracks, plus the blue, red and black xc trails on the mountain open daily through Sun 2nd November (wind permitting, check mountain report page for daily updates).

During spring, Glencoe revamped the lift served downhill bike tracks, featuring an improved combined lower section that runs out into a finish area adjacent to the White Corries Cafe at the base for both the red and black downhill tracks.

The Access Chairlift is open for sighting daily from 9am to 4.15pm with the last lift down at 4.30pm. The Plateau Cafe on the mountain is open for hot and cold drinks, plus light snacks on weekends during the autumn from 10am to 3pm and daily from 13th to 27th October (providing the Access Chair is running). The White Corries Panoramic Cafe at the base is open daily 8am to 8pm, with last hot food orders at 7pm.

For sightseeing the 15 minute walk to the summit of Creag Dhubh from the Access Chair is well worth doing for a fantastic 360deg panorama. The UKs highest disc golf course is also open daily. Both the disc golf and blue single track xc bike loop start from the Plateau Cafe.

Summer tubing at Glencoe on the dryslope is open daily through Sun 2nd November. Advisable to book tubing sessions online for summer to avoid disappointment at http://glencoe.axess.shop .

At Nevis Range, from the Top of the Gondola there is a choice of 2 view point walks. The Gondola opening hours have reduced from Monday 15th, now open 9.30am to 3.45pm for the last uplift. The lower mountain bike trails are open year round and the base Cafe Bar is currently open daily until 10pm for refueling after evening rides.

On CairnGorm the funicular has reopened after a short closure and is due to run daily until Sunday 2nd November when it shuts for pre winter maintenance. Weather permitting the magic carpets at the Daylodge level will be open for the small bike park. Tubing and mountain carting should be pre booked to avoid disappointment as sessions are filling up. Check activity status before travelling this weekend.

At the Lecht the Cafe is now closed until the snowsports season begins. The big news from the Lecht from mid August is that the Lecht has been granted full planning permission for a new snowfactory plant to be situated beside the existing piste basher garage that will produce more than 2.5 to 3x the snow output of the existing plant.

At Glenshee eyes are also turning to winter and early bird season passes are now on sale on the website, with early bird prices until 31st October.

:: England Club Fields

There are always opportunities to volunteer to assist various work parties over the autumn months to help get the club fields ready for winter, please visit the relevant websites and social media feeds for updates. Annual membership/season passes are now open.

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 6pm in the West at the Glencoe SSC hut at 850m the mid mountain temperature was +9.4°c, with a variable and gusty wind at 20 gusting 51 mph.

The SAIS AWS at the top of the Summit Tow was reporting +7.9°c on Aonach Mor, the wind at the Met Office Summit Run station was South 29 gust 46mph. The Tower 17 AWS on the Gondola was reporting a Southerly wind at 14 gusting 30 mph. At Tulloch Station (237m) the temperature was +14°c.

In the East the CairnGorm the Met Office Summit AWS reported +7°c with a Westerly at 53 gusting 72mph. Aviemore was at +14°c.

The Cairnwell AWS reported +8.9°c (3061ft /934m), with a Southerly wind at a mean of 41 gusting 52 mph.

• top of page •

:: Mountain Forecast Discussion

Progressively windier this evening before wind speeds lull for a time on Friday ahead of the arrival of Storm Amy during Friday afternoon with wind speeds expected to peak in the early hours of Saturday, with a Met Office Amber warning in place from 5pm Friday to 10am Saturday. However, notably high winds will continue throughout daylight hours on Saturday.

Friday 3rd October will begin under fairly benign conditions, but all attention is on the approach of Storm Amy. Early in the day Munro-level temperatures will hover near 5 to 6°c in the Cairngorms, slightly higher in the West Highlands. Winds in the morning remain moderate initially, lulling for a time to around 20 to 30 mph, but by midday pressure gradient tightens and winds will strengthen rapidly into Friday evening. By afternoon and evening, Severe Gales develop, escalating to sustained winds of 50?60 mph, and later Hurricane Force with 70 to 80 mph on exposed summits, with gusts in excess of 100mph in prone locations.

The windchill effect will make it feel markedly colder, possibly down to ?5 to ?10. Visibility is expected to deteriorate sharply as rain spreads west to east, and cloud bases will drop to cover most of the higher ground. In the West Highlands, rainfall becomes widespread and heavy, especially in western catchments, compounding the heavy rainfall already this week. Streams and mountain rivers will be very high with flooding likely.

By the morning of Saturday 4 October, mountain conditions will remain extremely challenging. At 900 m, temperatures may rise temporarily to 7 to 8°c, but strong winds persist, likely 60 to 80 mph in many places. Gusts over 90 mph remain possible on the most exposed peaks. The windchill will continue to bite and visibility is expected to be very poor through much of the day. Movement on ridgelines and higher slopes will be hazardous or impossible in many areas, and any outdoor activity will be severely limited by the combination of wind force, saturated ground, and high water levels. In the Cairngorms, early morning might give fleeting breaks in cloud but these will not last as rain becomes entrenched from the south and southwest.

On Sunday, the worst of Storm Amy?s core influence may begin to wane, though conditions remain unsettled. Summit temperatures will have dropped close to freezing late Saturday / overnight, but Munro Level temperature may rebound to around the 5 to 6°c range. While the wind will have eased back somewhat, speeds will continue to hover in the 40 gusting 60 mph range. Visibility could improve intermittently between showers towards the East Highlands,, but low cloud and rain will linger over western slopes.

Looking into early next week, the unsettled pattern is expected to continue. Atlantic systems will maintain a regime of frequent showers, strong winds (though typically less severe than Storm Amy), and low cloud on the greater part of Scotland?s hills.

There is still uncertainty about the depth and thus track of Storm Amy, so be prepared for forecast details and the weather warnings to change further.

• 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 will be shortly before 7am BST. Wind speed is now available from base, mid mountain and summit elevations.

• top of page •