Freezing Ross roads being treated according to priority as bad weather triggers closure of several schools in the county

WINTER treatment is under way across the Highlands with below-freezing temperatures creating problems on roads and pavements.

Highland Council earlier confirmed a number of Ross-shire schools will remain closed today

These include:

Bualnaluib Primary: Closed (bad weather)

Bualnaluib Primary Nursery: Closed (bad weather)

Gairloch High School: Closed (severe road conditions)

Gairloch Primary: Closed (bad weather)

Gairloch Primary Nursery – Closed (bad weather)

Poolewe Primary: Closed (bad weather)

Poolewe Primary Nursery: Closed (bad weather)

Across the region more than 600 pupils are affected.

Highland Council's road report for today reveals temperatures well below zero throughout the area.

Ross and Cromarty (East)

Road surface temperatures and air temperatures below with a hard frost and ice affecting routes. All routes being treated this morning including footpaths. No overnight issues reported.

Wester Ross, Strathpeffer and Lochalsh

Overnight road surface temperatures stayed well below zero throughout last night. The Gairloch area was very slippy this morning, with some overnight rain causing issues. The other roads on the network were icy, but a bit drier. All routes treated. Treatment is still ongoing. No overnight issues reported.

Caithness

Much lower temperatures than forecast -4 to -6 on all routes being treated. All route treatement ongoing. Frozen snow and ice patches on all routes. No overnight issues reported.

Inverness

Very low road surface temperatures this morning but roads mainly dry. Caution advised while driving on the network with all routes and paths being treated. No overnight issues

Lochaber

Low temperatures on all routes with snow affecting the west of the region. All routes have been treated this morning with further treatment ongoing.

Nairn

Temperatures well below zero throughout the area. All routes treated. No known overnight issues.

Skye and Raasay

Localised snow showers through the night affecting North Skye routes this morning with around 2 inches of snow. Surface temperatures below zero throughout. Treatment currently ongoing on primary and secondary routes.

Sutherland

Icy roads throughout Sutherland with frozen slush and sheet ice in some areas, treatment ongoing. No overnight issues.

The UK Met Office has a Yellow weather warning in place through to noon today for snow and ice for much of the Highland region. A further yellow warning for snow and ice will be in place from noon tomorrowuntil noon on Thursday.

The school closures page on the Council’s website at: www.highland.gov.uk/schoolclosures is updated from 7am and cleared each evening by 6pm.

Get alerts of closures on Highland Council’s Twitter and Facebook. Or phone 0800 564 2272 to get the latest pre-recorded message from head teachers regarding their school. Have the school's PIN ready when you call.

Maps of the Council’s gritting routes by priority and policy are available online at www.highland.gov.uk/gritting.

Highland Council says the information provided is a summary of reports from operational staff "and is intended to give a general indication of typical conditions in each area at a point in time. It is not intended to imply that any individual route is entirely snow and ice free and drivers must be aware that conditions can change rapidly and make their own assessment of conditions for travelling."

Road condition reports for Monday 12 December 2022 are as follows:

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