Highland winter road conditions report - Thursday 15 December
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 for Thursday 15 December 2022 are as follows:
Badenoch and Strathspey
Posted 07:55 - Snowfall overnight on all routes. Primary and secondary routes being treated as priority. No known overnight issues.
Caithness
Posted 09:15 - Icy roads. Side roads hard packed with slush on them and some black ice about. Treatment ongoing on roads and footpaths very slippery. No other issues reported.
Inverness
Posted 06:56 - Snow fall last night on higher routes with some minor flurries on lower roads. Treating all routes and footpaths. Caution advised while driving.
Lochaber
Posted 08:10 - Some light snow showers overnight with very icy patches on al routes this morning. Primary and secondary route treatement ongoing. No issues reported overnight.
Nairn
Posted 07:55 – Snowfall overnight on all routes. Primary and secondary routes being treated as priority. No known overnight issues.
Ross and Cromarty (East)
Posted 07:45 - Widespread ice across the area causing difficult driving conditions. All routes being treated. Caution advised on any untreated surfaces.
Wester Ross, Strathpeffer and Lochalsh
Posted 06:22 - Air temperatures are higher than forecast this morning. The drivers have reported a bit less snow across the network. All routes being treated and treatment ongoing.
At 18:02 last night the Bealach na Bà was closed due to drifting snow and the snow gates have been closed. The road is still closed and a re-assessment of conditions will be made later today.
UPDATE: 15:30 - Unfortunately the road will remain closed for the rest of today. A re-assessment of conditions will be made tomorrow. The coast road is open.
Skye and Raasay
Posted 08:17 - Higher road temperatures allowing some improvement in road conditions for North Skye, where treated. Snow showers impacting on the A851 Armadale road requiring ploughing to both lanes. No overnight issues to report.
Sutherland
Posted 06:43 - Poor conditions with snowfall on top of ice, vehicles stuck in various locations. Snow clearing and treatment ongoing. A836 Lairg to Tongue currently remains closed due to snow and ongoing snowfall, a re-assessment of conditions will be made later today.
The UK Met Office has a Yellow weather warning (external link) has been extended until 23:59 Friday for snow & ice for much of the Highland region.
School closures
As of 09:00 this morning there are 4 secondary schools, 27 primary schools and 21 nursery schools closed or partially closed.
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.