Highland Road Conditions Report – Wednesday 17 January 2024

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 17 January 2024 are as follows:

Badenoch and Strathspey

07:32 - The snow gates have been closed on the B9007 Ferness Road. Snow across the network this morning with negative temperatures. All resources are deployed and all routes are being treated. More snow and low temperatures are forecast for throughout the day and evening. Caution advised on all roads and footpaths across the area.  

Nairn

07:33 - Snow across the network this morning with negative temperatures. All resources are deployed and all routes are being treated. More snow and low temperatures are forecast for throughout the day and evening. Caution advised on all roads and footpaths across the area.  

Skye and Raasay

08:30 - Fresh snow cover from overnight showers and widespread icy patches. Treatment currently ongoing on Primary & Secondary Routes.  

Sutherland

08:13 - Snowfall affecting all routes this morning with an additional five inches of fresh snow. The lying snow has been blown around overnight forming drifts. The areas affected: Minor drifting (under 1ft) are: A836 Edderton - Ardgay at Dounie; B9176 Struie; A837 Ledmore Junction - Skiag Junction. Moderate drifting (up to 2ft) A836 Lairg to Tongue; A897 Helmsdale to Melvich. Snow clearing operations continuing in accordance with policy as resources permit. 

Ross & Cromarty

07:04 - A combination of up to four inches of fresh snow and sub-zero temperatures are causing difficult conditions. All routes are being treated with treatment to continue throughout the day. Caution is advised on any untreated surfaces.

Lochaber

All primary routes are being treated. Frozen compacted snow on all routes. Air temperature recorded as -9. Extreme caution required on all routes. Primary routes are being prioritised before treatment on secondary routes.

Inverness

09:36 - Generally two to four inches of snow cover on roads Six inches of cover on some high roads. Gritters out on all routes blading and treating. 

Wester Ross

07:45 - Three to four inches of snow overnight with sub-zero temperatures. All routes being treated, but extreme caution still advised. No overnight issues reported.

Caithness

09:01 - Fresh fall of four to five inches of snow overnight in Caithness. All main routes have drifting on them. A99 going into John O' Groats was blocked. All main routes have had double runs for blading purposes and all now passable. Priority routes are now getting looked at. Up four inches on town footpaths and rural paths. Treatment ongoing on those also. 

At the time of issue, there are a number of schools or nurseries closed today as a result of bad weather. Our school closure webpage is updated from 8am and cleared by 6pm each evening.

​There is currently a Met Office AMBER warning for Snow across Highland today and tomorrow. Information on weather warnings are available on the Met Office website.

Follow our social media channels to keep up-to-date with all Highland Council road issues today - @HighlandCouncil

For information on Trunk Roads follow @trafficscotland or visit https://www.traffic.gov.scot/