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

Storm Chandra delivered sustained snowfall across a swath of Highland mountains, but also lots of wind which topped out at 133mph on CairnGorm on Tuesday. Absolutely mountainous volumes of snow have moved in the wind and some of the drifts at Glenshee and CairnGorm could be mistaken for mountains themselves.

With the wind abating and skies clearing for CairnGorm and Glenshee, roads and some limited uplift did open. Late morning at Glenshee, early afternoon on CairnGorm where 2 snowblowers had to cut a route through the Link Road!

Glencoe had the advantage of no high level road to deal with and the Access Chair was spinning on time, with access to the upper mountain following not long after. More snow actually fell at Glencoe than CairnGorm, but the strength of the SE wind and extent of high elevation fetch upwind of CairnGorm negated that fact by some distance. The Coire Cas Gunbarrel is flat, huge accumulations behind Zig Zag fences and embankments, and the funicular track buried in spots on the White Lady.

However it is going to take both CairnGorm and Glenshee time to expand the open terrain and lifts, just how quickly progress can be made remains to be seen, so Glencoe maybe still be the safer bet for more vertical and variety on Thursday. So long as winds remains SE then from a wind perspective Glencoe is usually least affected by that direction.

Glencoe was open to the top with the full on mountain vertical of 1400ft, with Rannoch Glades, the Rock Garden (the boulderfield between Rannoch Glades and the Main Basin), the Main Basin itself, Happy Valley and Etive Glades seeing action on wind packed fresh snow. Plateau Poma run is considerably improved as is the uptrack, but other things are back to front with snow wrong side of fences given the sustained East based airflow!

At Glenshee the lifts were limited to the roadside lifts, both Sunnyside Pomas, the beginner area, Plastic Slope and Baddoch Chair. Cairnwell Tow due to run tomorrow. Butcharts area heavily scoured with some big drifts, lot of work to tidy this up. Further out parts of the Caenlochan Poma is nearly buried and around Meall Odhar there are drifts that resemble cliff faces.

On CairnGorm uplift only got as high as the Cas T-bar, Gunbarrel was flat with machine packed fresh snow. Machines were working on the M1 uptrack and digging out the funicular.

The Lecht has caught a lot of snow at the top of the hill, less on the steeper section of the main side runs, but lots on the Buzzard. Machines were working to even out the snow cover, Eagle is expected to join the Grouse that was open today. All 3 eastern areas have good beginner options.

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.

:: Glencoe Sledge Park

The Sledge Park at the Plateau Cafe is in excellent condition! 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.

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:: England Club Fields

Weardale was able to operate the lower tow on Wednesday. Yad Moss and Allenheads decided not to open today, snow was thawing and this evening Yad Moss is too marginal for Thursday. Unless some unexpected snow arrives tonight, it is unlikely any of the Club Fields will open Thursday. At Raise the wind direction unfortunately scoured the Poma slope!

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 -0.2°c, wind at 13 gusting 18mph. At the Top of the Access (671m) it was also -0.2°c at 7pm. At Base level (366m) it was +1.5°c.

The SAIS summit AWS on Aonach Mor was reporting -2.3°c. The Met Office station was reporting a South East wind at 24 gusting 32mph. At the CIC Hut (680m) it was +1.3°c. At Tulloch Station (237m) the temperature was +1.3°c.

In the East the Heriot Watt Summit Weather Station on CairnGorm reported -1.4°c, with a Southerly at a mean of 24 gusting 26mph. At Aviemore the temperature at 7pm was -0.8°c.

The Met Office Cairnwell AWS (3061ft /934m) reported a temperature of -0.4°c, with a South Easterly at a mean of 15 gusting 24mph.

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:: Mountain Forecast Discussion

Finally a chance to see CairnGorm, Glenshee and Glencoe today! The West may keep some bright or sunny spells on Thursday between possible snow showers, but towards Glenshee snow showers are expected to pick up a bit tonight and an overcast day with fairly frequent but lighter snowfall is expected. Snowfall is expected to once again get considerably heavier during Friday and overnight into Saturday for the SE Highlands.

For Thursday the FL should be below the lower slopes with around -2 to -3°c at Munro Level. SE 20 to 30mph gusting 35 to 40mph generally, but risk gusts 55mph on and downslope of the Cairngorm Plateau and through the Nevis Range mountains. There is some uncertainty on wind speed over the coming days, check regularly for updates.

Friday looks likely to see more organised snowfall, heavier and most persistent towards the SE Highlands, particularly later in the day and continuing overnight into Saturday morning. Wind speeds will also increase during the day, blizzard conditions setting in at height. SE 30 gusting 45 to 50mph, but gusts over 70mph likely on and downslope of the Cairngorm Plateau and may increase further late in the day. Between -1 and -3°c at Munro Level.

Early indications for Saturday are for snow showers, around -2 to -3°c at Munro Level, with moderating SE winds, but gusts to 50mph likely in prone locations particularly during snow. More snowfall towards the SE Cairngorms, more showery for Glencoe and the Lecht, and Glencoe may catch some brighter or sunny spells.

Over the coming days a similar pattern to pre Storm Chandra looks likely, FL bouncing around between slightly below and slightly above the lower slopes, wind generally from the SE quadrant and speeds fluctuating. A marked lull looks possible at some point this weekend, but at present it looks as if the lightest winds will be overnight Saturday into Sunday morning, if that could slip back a bit it would be good. At least if the winds do fall away on Saturday night, it should be a swift opening on Sunday.

The MWIS update today ends with a note that there is scope for widely colder conditions towards mid February.

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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 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.

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