Temperature dips to -7C and heavy snow create issues on some Highland Council roads
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SUB-ZERO overnight temperatures and "a good covering of snow first thing" have create challenging driving conditions in parts of Wester Ross this morning.
BEAR Scotland earlier reported difficulties on stretches of the A835 to Ullapool and the A9 with gritters deployed following some heavy snowfall.
Highland Council's daily roads report flagged road surface temperatures sub-zero overnight in Wester Ross.
It states: "A good covering of snow first thing. Two inches across most of the routes. Two to four inches across the tops of the hills - Mam Ratagan, Bealach na Ba and Diabeg. Treatment ongoing this morning on all routes. Roads passable with care."
Maps of the Council’s gritting routes by priority and policy are available online at www.highland.gov.uk/gritting
The local authority states that 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 says that "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".
Other parts of the region:
East Ross-shire: Low road surface temperatures with a covering of snow at lower ground and up to 1/2" at higher ground. Icy patches on some routes. Treatment ongoing. No issues reported overnight.
Caithness: All routes affected by up to 2 inches snow and hard-packed on main routes, blading where necessary and drifting in parts of the Dunbeath area. All routes being treated and footpaths also getting treatment by priority. No issues reported.
Lochaber: Icy conditions with some snow accumulations in the west of the area, treatment ongoing this morning on all routes. No known overnight issues.
Badenoch & Strathspey: Icy conditions throughout the area. One inch snow cover from Aviemore northwards. Treatment ongoing.
Nairn: A cold morning with ice and a light snow cover. Treatment ongoing throughout the area.
Sutherland: Low road surface temperatures throughout with a cover of snow on all routes, 3" - 5" on the higher routes with ongoing treatment.
Inverness: Icy conditions on low ground roads, 2" snow cover on top of ice on high roads, gritters out on all routes.
Skye and Raasay: Cold overnight with air temperature dropping to -7.6C. Widespread snow overnight. Routes being treated by priority. Snow accumulations extending across Skye over the next 24 hour period. No issues to report overnight.
A number of schools and nurseries are closed or have delayed opening due to weather conditions.
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.
