Scottish Ski & Winter Activity Report // The General Situation for CairnGorm, Glenshee, Lecht, Nevis Range & Glencoe // Winterhighland

A fine blue sky finally across the Central Highlands this evening and a taste of Summer to go with it, setting the scene for a few fine days to start the new week. It does seem to have been been a season that's at times been particularly frustrating for weekend skiers, a trawl through the Pix from the Slopes seems to show up the phrase 'Bluebird Tuesday' a disproportionate number of times, and it looks like there might be another one this Tuesday.

Before you race to make plans for Tuesday though, CairnGorm Mountain has now concluded daily snowsports operations, which unfortunately means the Funicular will be running in the closed system during the week. If your keen to ski off the train, please let them know - only if demand is registered, might there be a rethink while the White Lady remains complete.

Overnight the very mild temperatures and heavy rain sadly broke the Ciste uptrack and link from the Ciste Bowl at the bottom, plus the middle of Coire Cas is broken and some walking is required, however the Traverse and Cas Gunbarrel remain loaded. The Ptarmigan Bowl and Ptarmigan Traverse are still in fairly decent shape, as is the Terrain Park. The White Lady is still complete to the mid-station platform and mostly in decent shape, though care required getting onto the run proper, but once on it she's largely in decent shape with good bumps.

Very mild to warm start to the week will be dry with lighter winds, which should reduce the thaw rate and it does not look like the arrival of summer. Forecasts are now firming up on a stark reversal of the temperatures mid-week. If that occurs as forecast, CairnGorm Mountain will re-assess the mountain from mid-week with a view to what could be offered for the bank holiday weekend.

Hopefully the Ptarmigan Run and Tow will survive to spin again this season, because as we stand that would still give the White Lady off the Funicular, Coire Cas with a bit of hoofing in the middle and for those prepared to hike back to the Funicular (or out to the Ciste Carpark) the pick of the bunch which is the Ciste Gully. Fingers crossed that we are not yet done for the 2013 season in Scotland.

With no skier uplift during the week on CairnGorm, if your willing to earn your turns, remember the upper mountain at Glencoe is still in impressive shape given the date with the Spring Run and Main Basin both complete and sparkling in the evening Sun on Sunday. The Access Chair is open daily wind permitting to get you up to 2200ft and the Wall is complete for returning down the mid-mountain to Plateau level. There is still snow in Goose Gully at Nevis Range, but not as much as at Glencoe or as accessible.

:: Mountain Weather Outlook

High Pressure ridging in will generally settle things down and bring largely dry and increasingly fine overhead as we move into the new week, however a risk of isolated thunder storms bubbling up early in the week, over the Cairngorms later on Monday afternoon has the greatest risk. Some fireworks developed over the Southern Cairngorms, before drifting over Drumochter on Sunday evening.

Any overnight mist will rise to higher cloud and should increasingly break up on Monday with some decent sunny spells, a light Northerly at 10 gusting 15mph and around +10 to +12°c at Munro Level, highest temps to south and west of the main ranges.

Tuesday looks to be a largely fine day with extended sunny spells, perhaps prolonged sunshine away from slopes facing windward coasts. Around +6°c at Munro level with North 10 gusting 20mph.

Wednesday looks like a mostly fine day with sunny spells, cooler with the FL back below the higher summits, around +1 to +2°c at Munro Level. Light becoming moderate Northerly, freshening to 20 gust 35mph.

Colder and unsettled on Thursday with snow showers rattling into North facing mountains, around -1°c at Munro Level with the wind NW 30 gusting 50mph. Wind moderating and some bright or sunny spells on Friday between mountain snow showers, 0°c at Munro Level expected.

Check the MWIS and Met Office Mountain forecasts for the latest detailed area mountain weather outlooks.

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:: Ski Area Contact Numbers & Websites

Glencoe: 01855 851226 www.glencoemountain.co.uk
Nevis Range: 01397 705825 www.nevisrange.co.uk
Lecht: 01975 651440 www.lecht.co.uk
CairnGorm: 01479 861261 www.cairngormmountain.co.uk
Glenshee: 013397 41320 www.ski-glenshee.co.uk

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:: Winterhighland Webcams & Automatic Weather Stations

CairnGorm SSC: www.winterhighland.info/cams/cairngorm-mountain
Mountain Spirit, Aviemore: www.winterhighland.info/cams/aviemore
Glencoe Cams: www.winterhighland.info/cams/glencoe
Loch Morlich: www.winterhighland.info/cams/cairngorm-mountain/morlich.php

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