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

For both CairnGorm and Glencoe, Tuesday will be the best day of the week on the weather front and likely on the snow front too. With a mild, damp and windy Wednesday and Friday on the cards, get up Tuesday if you can! If not then Thursday may rescue your chance for a slide, better overhead, cooler, bust still blustery, so keep an eye on forecasts and updates.

Both CairnGorm and Glencoe have seen fresh snow fall and drift over the weekend. The falls much more significant for West Coast mountains, but there has also been snow blowing in from higher plateau areas in to CairnGorm ski area with the Storm Force Southerly winds over the weekend.

Considerably less wind on Monday allowed CairnGorm and Glencoe to get back up and running for snowsports.

CairnGorm is the pick if you are seeking easier terrain or wish to ride with a mixed ability group, with still good cover in the Top Basin terrain (various green trails), White Lady (red) and the Cas runs from the Traverse (green / blue). The White Lady in particular has a wide and deep base thanks to the persistent SE storms in January!

If you are prepared to do the leg work the Ciste Gully is complete to below the level of the former boardwalks. However, please not that the Funicular touring pass is not available currently.

At Glencoe though mid mountain has improved, this is principally for access to / from the upper mountain where the main action is taking place. Thus Glencoe is better suited to more experienced skiers and boarders at this time, you need to confident on stiff blues to get the most out of what is on offer.

While there is a reasonable route to near the Plateau Cafe heading down the full length of Old Mugs Alley, this should not be considered green terrain at this time. The Wall has also caught a good deal of fresh snow over the weekend and is an alternative way down the middle for advanced skiers and boarders.

There have been significant windblown gains on the upper mountain on Happy Valley, the Main Basin, Rannoch Glades and the Spring Run. Check with ski patrol for latest on Flypaper and East Ridge. The Main Basin and Happy Valley were pisted on Monday morning, these and the Spring Run will be the best bets later Tuesday as the temperature starts to lift.

Glenshee and the Lecht are currently closed for snowsports. At update the CairnGorm Ski Road, the A939 Lecht Pass and the A93 Cairnwell Pass were open and clear.

There is extensive cover on the upper half of the mountain at Nevis Range with the upper Goose wide and deep, and the summit fence lines loaded. New snow has drifted in along lower fence lines too. Good cover from Goose drive up and down the Warrens fence line as seen on the SAIS photos from today. Snow currently lies to the Top Gondola Station. Nevis Range report describes this as closed due to lack of snow cover.

:: Glencoe Sledge Park

The Sledge Park is full length and in great condition. Snowmaking continues round the clock. There are over 150 sledges to grab at the Plateau Cafe, sledging is complimentary!

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 4.15pm.

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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 Glencoe, the summit AWS on Meall a Bhuiridh (1097m) was reporting a temperature of -0.6°c. At the SSC hut (850m) the temperature was +1.0°c. At Base level (366m) it was +5.3°c with a South West wind at 4 gusting 12mph.

The SAIS summit AWS on Aonach Mor was reporting -1.5°c. The Met Office station was reporting a South wind at 21 gusting 27mph. At the CIC Hut (680m) it was +1.4°c. At Tulloch Station (237m) the temperature was +6.5°c.

In the East the summit weather stations on CairnGorm reported -2.3°c, with a Southerly at a mean of 37 gusting 50mph. At Aviemore the temperature at 6pm was +7.2°c.

The Met Office Cairnwell AWS reported +0.9°c with a South West wind at a mean of 27 gusting 38mph.

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:: Mountain Forecast Discussion

Under a transient ridge of high pressure Tuesday will be a largely fine day, with a widely bluebird start anticipated. However a change will be approaching from the West and high cloud is expected to spill in, thickening later in the afternoon, with patchy rain into the evening before a more marked deterioration overnight as the ridge moves away. Around -1 to -2°c post dawn, rising to 0°c mid to late morning at Munro Level, rising +3°c later. SE winds will start to freshen later afternoon and gales are likely to develop by or post dusk.

That will set up a poor day on Wednesday, particularly in the West Highlands, with longer periods of rain and a strong South or SE wind. Precipitation is expected to be more showery in the East, but here too a longer spell of rain is likely in the afternoon. FL will be above the Summits, around +4 to +6°c at Munro Level, perhaps slightly higher on the northern side of the mountain ranges if wind stays Southerly. Widely South 35 to 45, gusting 55 to in 65mph, risk higher gusts on and downslope of Cairngorm Plateau and through the Nevis Range if direction is to the East of South. Wind will be strong enough to limit or curtail uplift.

Thursday will provide a possible window of opportunity for those who can not get up on Tuesday, it will be cooler, blustery but not as windy as Wednesday with a mix of sunny spells and summit snow showers. Around +1 to +3°c at Munro Level, lowest in showers in the West, highest toward the NE Highlands where more bright spells are expected. SW 25 gusting 40mph, but gusts 50mph on and near the Cairngorm Plateau.

Unfortunately Friday looks like another damp and windy day, though at this stage more showery than Wednesday. Again windspeeds are likely to disrupt / limit uplift.

Potentially higher pressure riding in for the weekend, or at least trying to, but low confidence in detail. At this stage, Saturday looks like it will be the best day since Tuesday, but not guaranteed!

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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 after 6am (BST). Sledge Park camera streams overnight. Replacement Summit AWS has been installed and temperature data is available from 4 levels. Wind speed currently available at summit and base.

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