Highland Council winter road condition and school closure report for Wednesday, 13 December 2017

13th December 2017

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

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 by The Highland Council's Community Services for Wednesday, 13 December 2017 are as follows:

Caithness and North Sutherland: Mostly rain in the west due to the rising temps with sleety showers on the high grounds, Caithness has frozen snow and black ice rutted in places on most routes very hard to shift all treated with 20gms, treatment ongoing. At 09:28

South Sutherland: Very icy across the area this morning with rain falling on frozen roads. All routes currently being treated in order of priority. No problems reported. At 08:12.

Ross and Cromarty: Improved conditions from yesterday but rain and sleet falling onto cold roads are making for tricky conditions. Heavy rain and sleet on east routes washing salt of. Widespread ice. Caution advised on all routes across the area. At 07:42

Skye and Lochalsh: Road surface temperatures have generally recovered this morning with routes reported as wet with the exception of Mam Ratagan which had a covering of snow/ice. At 08:25

Lochaber: Mainly rain across the area this morning. Sleet on highest parts of some routes. Primary routes reported clear. Some ice patches on some of the Secondary routes treated as more winter weather expected. Some treatment required on the Glen Roads where the snow-melt has turned to ice. At 08:37

Nairn: Rain falling onto frosty/frozen roads causing some challenging conditions - roads being treated with salt as necessary. At 08:19.

Badenoch and Strathspey: Rain falling onto frosty/frozen roads causing some challenging conditions - roads being treated with salt. At 08:14.

Inverness: Melting ice making roads wet along with road surface temperatures below zero. Very little fresh snow fall. At 07:42.

Highland has the longest road network of any council in Scotland and it is not possible to treat every road at the same time. 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.

School Closures:

Glenelg Primary school and Nursery are closed today due to no water/heating/power. Thirteen pupils are affected.

PLEASE NOTE other schools may close during the day so please visit the school closures website for up-to-date information at www.highland.gov.uk/schoolclosures

The page 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.