•England Club Fields

•Mountain Weather

•Mountain Forecast Discussion

•Webcams and Weather Stations

At update snow is falling on light winds at the Lecht and Glenshee. The A939 Lecht Pass is closed, but it is anticipated it will open in the morning after a substantial digging out effort on Wednesday as drifting eased. The A93 Cairnwell Pass was open at update. Most snow in the Northern Cairngorms.

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

Snow is falling this evening at Glenshee and the Lecht, at update the A939 Lecht Pass was closed and the A93 Cairnwell Pass through Glenshee Ski Area was open. However it is anticipated that the A939 will open on Thursday after a big digging out effort in lighter winds on Wednesday, allowing the Lecht to resume its season and offer the main run terrain for the first time this winter.

Over the past 24 hours it looks as if CairnGorm was the overall snow winner though, with around 18-22cm indicated by the radar data, while the Lecht looks to have caught between 14 and 18cm of new snow. Glenshee looks to have narrowly missed out on much heavier snowfall, but nonetheless a couple of additional lower Cairnwell lifts are expected to make their season debut on Thursday.

So to the Lecht who anticipate opening the Eagle, Grouse, Osprey, Kestrel and Buzzard Pomas, plus both beginner magic carpets on Thursday. There is likely to be further de-icing required in the morning after further snow tonight. These tows will give access to most of the main run terrain apart from the steeper Falcon and Harrier fenced runs. The nursery slopes are in fantastic shape for learning, and though there was no base below the new snow, it is wind packed and machine groomed between the fences, so should give beautiful early season turns for getting those riding legs back!

CairnGorm is offering top to Daylodge riding giving around 1650ft of lifted vertical to the Daylodge bridge, a bit more if you are happy to ride over the narrow bridge and path out to the back of the Base Station! There has not been a huge amount of drifting on CairnGorm, so still some thin areas that may get a bit scrapped / gritty mid mountain and on the lower slopes on Thursday. Top Basin runs now pretty much ride anywhere however and the beginner area beside the Daylodge is in great condition thanks to the machine made base. It is hoped to officially open the M2 / Daylodge route for a long blue run to the Base Station, but the Daylodge run needs some work lower down.

CairnGorm could really do with some significant drifting from the Southern quadrant, unfortunately for weekend warriors this looks likely to arrive during the weekend, currently most likely to impact Sunday, keep a close eye on forecasts as there is some uncertainty because the exact track and depth of Storm Goretti across Southern England or Northern France is still not completely nailed on.

At Glencoe things are slowly filling, but more drifting and/or more snow is required as Glencoe has seen the least snow out of the snowsports areas. The Sledge Park is open daily (wind permitting). 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. Snowsports lessons are taking place for beginners on snow at the Plateau Cafe.

Please note that all facilities at Nevis Range are now closed until further notice, so there is no lift assistance for tourers, walkers or winter climbers looking to get onto Aonach Mor.

:: England Club Fields

The three Pennine Clubfields all enjoyed a November start to their season, with Allenheads and Weardale notching up the first lift-served UK snow turns of the season.

There has been a light covering of snow at Yad Moss, Weardale and Raise, but so far insufficient for any snowsports. The Pennine Club Fields are on the edge of the Met Office warnings for Storm Goretti. They could see anything from a further dusting to upwards of 20 to 30cm of snow looking across a range of model / ensemble scenarios. So it is a wait and watch picture, around 10cm would probably be enough after the recent cold for Yad Moss, Allenheads and Weardale, Raise is likely to need more unless the drifting is very favourable!

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 -4.4°c, wind variable 4 gusting 6mph. At Base level (366m) it was -1.4°c.

The SAIS summit AWS on Aonach Mor was reporting -6.7°c. The Met Office station was reporting a North Easterly breeze at 2 gusting 4mph. It was -4.6°c at 680m at the CIC Hut (at 6pm, station has run out of battery). At Tulloch Station (237m) the temperature was -3.1°c.

In the East the CairnGorm the Met Office Summit AWS reported -6.2°c with a Westerly at a mean of 2 gusting 4mph. Aviemore was at 0.0°c at 8pm.

The Met Office Cairnwell AWS (3061ft /934m) reported -3.6°c with a SW wind at a mean of 4 gusting 7mph.

:: Mountain Forecast Discussion

This evening at update a band of snow was giving further snowfall for Glenshee and the Lecht, it is likely to be slow moving in light winds into the early part of the night, at update it was dry at the other snowsports areas. Wind is expected to freshen a bit pre-dawn, so there could be some further drifting before opening time.

Thursday will see light snow showers in the West, while showers in the East will probably be limited to the Southern Cairngorms, while the Northern side of the Cairngorms has a mostly dry day with some bright or sunny spells, with only an occasional rare flurry. Light and variable wind becoming South and freshening pre dawn, to perhasp around 20 to 30mph, maybe 40mph Cairngorm Plateau early morning, will become lighter again later in the day Minus 4 to -5°c at Munro Level.

While there is still some uncertainty over exact depth and track of Storm Goretti, the outlook into the weekend and beyond remains rather uncertain. It would be beneficial for the English Clubfields for everything to shunt North a bit, but that increases the risk of stronger SE winds arriving sooner into Highland Scotland this weekend.

Friday looks likely to see light and variable winds in the West Highlands and ENE winds in the Eastern mountains, best of any brightness towards the West, while some further snow showers for the Cairngorms. Of the Eastern ski areas, probably Glenshee is favoured for brighter / sunny spells, but will depend on exact wind direction. Winds ENE 15 to 25mph in the East. Around -4 to -5°c at Munro Level.

At this stage Saturday is perhaps the best day of the weekend as there is potential for strong SE winds to develop into Saturday evening and/or by Sunday. Keep a close eye on forecasts! While not good for those wanting to ski / ride on the days of strong SE winds, a period of SE winds while substantial deposits of loose redistributable snow lie on and to the south of plateau areas would be extremely good for the season ahead on CairnGorm!

Saturday should see moderate South to SE winds, becoming strong in the Northern Cairngorms and Nevis Range mountains. Mainly overcast with snow flurries in the Southern Cairngorms, while further North and West should be dry with sunny spells. Of the snowsports areas, the Lecht currently looks likely to be the best bet on Saturday with most brightness and least wind! Freezing Level should stay below the lower slopes, expecting -r to -4°c at Munro Level.

Sunday will start dry across the Highlands, but snow will push into the South Eastern Highlands during Sunday with a strengthening SE wind coming around Storm Goretti. Glencoe is likely to see the lowest wind speeds of the snowsports areas, but even there it could become marginal for the Access Chair as Sunday goes on.

In the East the Northern Cairngorms could have significant blowing snow as SE winds ramp up, while not as strong as on and downslope of the Cairngorm Plateau, SE winds can funnel through the Lecht Pass, so Saturday currently looks the best day for there too. Around -2 to -3°c at Munro Level, perhaps still -4°c towards the West and NW. Risk SE winds will ramp up to Severe Gale or Storm Force on and downslope of the Cairngorm Plateau as Sunday goes on.

:: 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 vane failed due to nearby lightning. Windspeed and other parameters are OK.