Highland Winter Road Conditions Report - Wednesday 8 January 2025

8th January 2025

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.

Maps of the Council's gritting routes by priority and policy are available online

Current Met Office yellow weather warning for snow and ice affecting the Highlands - Sleet and snow showers will continue for the rest of Wednesday and Thursday, before dying out by the end of Thursday evening. Northwest Scotland and the Northern and Western Isles will see the most frequent showers on Wednesday, before extending to the Northeast on Thursday. Further accumulations of 3-7 cm are expected to low levels, with 10-15 cm possible above 150 metres. Where any modest daytime thaw has occurred, icy stretches are likely on untreated surfaces.

Highland Road Conditions Report for Wednesday 8 January 2025 are as follows:

Sutherland (as at 08:36) - All routes affected by snow this morning up to 8cm on high ground with slight drifting in places, all routes been bladed and treated, including footpaths.

Lochaber (as at 08:17) - Snow overnight and this morning affecting all routes throughout the area, treatment on other routes will carry on through out the day including footpaths, no problems overnight

East Ross-shire (as at 07:34)
Below zero road temperatures and a fresh covering of snow at all levels. All routes plus footpaths are being treated. Caution is advised on any untreated surfaces.

Skye & Raasay (as at 07:03) - South Skye - Sleat road - just over an inch of snow and still snowing. Elgol - good covering of snow with light snow showers continuing. North Skye - Portree and A855 fresh dusting but not too heavy, salt from yesterday working well.

A863 good covering across all route with heavy snow continuing to fall. Up to 2 inches lying in some areas. Borve to Dunvegan - fresh cover of snow but again salt from yesterday is working slowly. The side roads are challenging with icy patches below new snow fall.

Raasay - fresh snow over ice so challenging to drive. This wintery weather to continue until at least Saturday. Although all routes are receiving treatment as per the policy (priority based), advise extreme caution when driving.

Badenoch & Strathspey (as at 06:52) - Fresh snow affecting all routes. Showers forecasted throughout the day. No known overnight issues.

Nairn (as at 06:52) - Snow overnight and this morning affecting all routes throughout the area. All routes being treated as resources allow . Foot paths being treated. No known overnight issues.
Ward 5 Wester Ross, Strathpeffer and Lochalsh (as at 06:45) - All routes out this morning with fresh snow affecting all routes.

Continuous showers forecasted throughout the day. Caution advised. No overnight issues reported. Bealach Na Ba will remained closed today.

Caithness (as at 06:30) - Negative road surface temperatures this morning, with a risk of snow showers and possibility of ice. Caution to be advised, all routes currently being treated in line with policy where resources allow. Footpaths being treated as well. No known overnight issues to report.

Inverness (as at 06:03) - Dusting of snow on low roads, 1" fresh snow cover on high roads, still frozen covering of old snow between wheel tracks on high roads, gritters treating all routes.

A number of schools are closed today due to the weather. For details visit www.highland.gov.uk/schoolclosures - please note that this page is cleared at 4pm each day.