Cold snap brings ice and snow to swathes of Ross-shire; Highland Council road report reveals challenging conditions
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SUB-ZERO temperatures and snowfall on several Ross-shire routes have made for icy stretches and challenging driving conditions this morning.
Highland Council's road report says surface and air temperatures are below zero on a number of roads with hard-packed snow on higher routes.
Some lower roads have a light dusting of snow and icy stretches.
The council says it is treating roads according to its agreed policy and priority.
The C1087 Bealach na Bà remains closed.
It warns that conditions can change rapidly and drivers should make their own assessment of conditions for travelling.
Other areas:
Caithness
Low road surface temperatures, sleet showers and frost patches. All routes treated being treated according the policy and priority.
Sutherland
Icy patches and a light covering of snow affecting most routes away from the coastal fringes. All routes being treated in line with policy. B869 Lochinver - Drumbeg - Kylesku particularly affected with frozen slush and snow, and also sheet ice in places. Treatment (including by hand) in difficult areas is ongoing on this route with a return journey planned on completion.
Skye and Lochalsh
Skye: Widespread ice with frozen hail and snow in places. Up to 50mm of snow on higher routes. Lochalsh: Snow (on higher routes up to 100mm of hard packed snow and up to 25mm at sea level). Widespread ice and frozen hail affecting routes as well.
Treatment of primary and secondary routes ongoing throughout area according to policy and priority. ‘Other’ routes to be treated once primary and secondary routes completed.
Lochaber
Low road surface temperatures and wintry showers. Light covering of snow and icy patches on roads. All primary and secondary routes being treated according to policy and priority and other routes as required.
Inverness
Patchy light covering of snow on roads, frozen on high roads, all routes being gritted according to policy and priority.
Badenoch and Strathspey
Snow, light covering up to 1cm and icy patches on all roads, a light/heavy salting being applied to primary, secondary and other routes as required according to policy and priority.
Highland has the longest road network of any council in Scotland "and it is not possible to treat every road at the same time", the council says. "A priority system is applied to treat the areas in greatest need first."
Trunk roads are gritted by BEAR Scotland (North West) for Transport Scotland.
Maps of the council’s gritting routes by priority and policy are available online at www.highland.gov.uk/gritting
