Highland Road Conditions Report – Wednesday 27 December 2023
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 at www.highland.gov.uk/gritting.
Highland Road Conditions Reports for Wednesday 27 December 2023 are as follows:
Caithness
06:03 - Positive road surface temperatures this morning and rain showers forecast. No action required until midday as temperatures are dropping below freezing then. No other known issues to report.
Easter Ross
09:09 - Wet roads with temperatures above at lower ground and marginal with remnants of yesterday’s snow shower on higher grounds. All others and higher routes checked and treated as required. Monitoring ongoing.
Skye and Raasay
07:07 – Wet and windy this morning. Precautionary Primary North Skye treatments carried out. Closure to B885 Struan hill road last night (16:30pm to 20:00pm) to allow LGV Lorry recovery. No other issues to report.
Lochaber
08:02 – Winter action as planned, very wet and windy, no problems overnight, Trees and lighting column down on the A82 North Road near Ben Nevis Ind Est being dealt with by Bear Scotland.
Wester Ross (Ward 5)
09:43 - Wet and very windy. Snow lying over Knockan and Bealach. Treatment on going. No overnight issues reported.
Badenoch and Strathspey
08:37 – Negative temperatures with dusting of wet snow on most roads. Treating all roads by priority and precautionary treatment of lower primary roads. No known overnight problems.
Sutherland
08:32 - Wet roads with icy patches and some slushy deposits from wintry showers. Lower priority roads are icy in some locations. Minor issues with trees due to high winds which are being attended to. Treatment of roads ongoing ahead of predicted snowfall.
Inverness
06:13 – Wet roads and low road surface temperatures this morning covering all routes and footpaths. No known issues
Nairn
08:34 - Marginal temperatures with dusting of wet snow on high roads. Lower roads generally wet. Treating all higher roads by priority and precautionary treatment of lower primary roads. No known overnight problems.
The Met Office have issued Yellow Warnings for wind, snow and rain affecting the Highlands today. All weather warnings are available on the Met Office website - https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/
Follow our social media channels to keep up-to-date with all road issues today - @HighlandCouncil
UPDATE - ISSUED 12:40
Partner agencies have been meeting to discuss the impacts of Storm Gerrit.
There are multiple trees and power lines down blocking numerous routes across the Lochaber area including the A82 trunk road.
There are also very long tailbacks on the A9 due to severe snow conditions at Drumochter.
Highland Council roads teams are assisting with clearing trees, where it is safe to do so.
People are advised to avoid travel unless essential in these areas today.
Check the Met Office https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/ for information on the weather warning in place for today and Traffic Scotland (link) for main route disruptions.