Highland Road Conditions Report – Thursday 18 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 Report for Thursday 18 January 2024 are as follows:

Badenoch and Strathspey

07:13 - 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 throughout the day and evening . Caution advised on all roads and footpaths across the area.  

Nairn

07:09 - 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 throughout the day and evening . Caution advised on all roads and footpaths across the area.

Skye and Raasay

08:49 - Fresh covering of snow through the night across the area, with showers continuing this morning. Treatment to Primary and Secondary Routes ongoing.

Sutherland

08:05 - Heavy overnight snowfall has delivered up to one foot of fresh snow, which has been and still is, drifting. This is causing whiteout conditions and drifts currently up to approximately four feet in exposed areas. Snow clearing vehicles mobilised from 6am. We currently would advise against travel. The A836 between Lairg and Tongue is currently impassable due to drifting snow. This road is being closed in the interest of public safety as the poor weather conditions continue. * Update 10:42am - The A897 is now closed between Kinbrace and Melvich due to drifting snow and strengthening winds. * Update 11:15am - Snow plough has left the road on A836 at Loyal between Altnaharra & Tongue. Crew are safe and uninjured. A vehicle is being mobilised from Lairg to help them back onto the road. The A837 is also impassable between Ledmore Junction and Rosehall. Road expected to close shortly. *Update 11:46am - The A836 Tongue to Bettyhill road is being closed to allow snow clearing operations to take place.

Easter Ross

09:52 - Fresh snow through the night with more snow forecast throughout the day. All routes are being treated and treatment will continue throughout the day. Roads are being treated based by priority on the network hierarchy. Caution advised. 

Lochaber

08:10 - Cold overnight with hard packed frozen snow on all routes. All resources are being deployed on Primary and Secondary routes, but conditions remain challenging. Driver caution is advised on all routes throughout Lochaber. No issues reported overnight. 

Inverness

08:06 - A light covering of new snow overnight on roads. Still old, hard-packed/frozen snow between wheel tracks on some roads. Gritters out treating all routes.

Wester Ross

08:13 - A832 between Braemore and Gairloch not advisable with bad drifting snow on the Fain between Braemore and Dundonnel. A foot of snow in places overnight. All resources are deployed but due to breakdown the C1047 from Drumrunie to Achultibuie is not advisable until teams can free up resources to treat later this morning. Caution advised on all other routes today with more snow and low temperatures forecast. No overnight issues reported 

Caithness

09:02 - Four to five inches of fresh snowfall last night on all routes. All routes are being affected by drifting snow, especially the A836 at Dunnet/Mey and the A99 at John O' Groats. All main routes seeing a double run first before treating other priorities. Footpaths in towns are also affected by heavy snow fall. A few issues this morning with vehicles being stuck, but all moving now. All main routes open and passable.

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.

​A Met Office AMBER warning for Snow across Highland remains in place today and a Yellow Warning for 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/