Highland Council winter report for Friday, 6 December 2013
Twelve Highland schools are closed today 6 December, 2013 due to lack of power or extreme weather. They include: Ben Wyvis Primary, Duror Primary, Farr High School, Farr Primary School, Bettyhill, Foyers Primary, Gergask Primary, Glenelg Primary, Inverness High School, Stratherrick Primary, Tore Primary, Munlochy Primary and Strathcon Primary.
Convener of The Highland Council Councillor Jimmy Gray said: “I’d like to thank all the council staff who responded to the impacts of the extreme weather we experienced yesterday and today across the Highlands. Our full complement of winter maintenance staff were fully deployed from 5am yesterday onwards to clear trees, ploughing and gritting and on flood watch at Inverness and Caol, Fort William.
“In addition we had staff from Building Control, Housing and Education responding to emergency situations. These were exceptional conditions of high winds, very low temperatures and tidal surges which combined to create a very difficult situation - which thanks to the dedication and commitment of our staff was dealt with. I would like to put on record my appreciation on behalf of the people of the Highlands.”
The Highland Council’s snow clearing / gritting route policies and area maps are online for 2013/14 at http://www.highland.gov.uk/gritting.htm.
Road condition and gritting treatment reports by The Highland Council’s, Transport, Environmental and Community Services for the morning of 6 December 2013 are as follows:
Badenoch and Strathspey
Lochaber
Very light sporadic snow cover. All priority routes treated as required. Posted: 06/12/2013 11:03
Skye and Lochalsh
Snow cover throughout. Primary routes treated. Gritters continuing on secondary and other routes. No problems. Posted: 06/12/2013 09:44
Ross and Cromarty
Covering of snow on ice throughout the area 1" - 2" snow on high ground. Showers of snow still falling round the area. Posted: 06/12/2013 09:17
North Sutherland and Caithness
Covering of snow 1" - 2" deep, blading and treating with mixture all routes in priority order. Some drifting snow in South East Caithness. Posted: 06/12/2013 08:54
Nairn
Roads mainly dry, light dusting of snow / icy patches. Checking and gritting as necessary. Posted: 06/12/2013 08:11
South Sutherland and Easter Ross
1" to 3" snow hard packed in places, all routes being treated and bladed in priority order. Posted: 06/12/2013 08:03
Inverness
1" to 3" frozen snow cover on roads, gritters out on all routes blading where required and applying grit. Posted: 06/12/2013 07:03.
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.