It hasn't been lost its just changed from a general thin cover to deeper windblown accumulations which was what enabled a piste basher to get to the top of the Main Basin T-bar at Glencoe yesterday. Possible to ski to Carpark at 1200ft today.

However what happens tonight is anyones guess. Does the lows always go further North, is the warm sector always wider and further north, do temperatures always go up as the time gets nearer, well sometimes the lows don't develop as deeply and thus swing further south - so we could yet get a flip the other way in one of these events as they are very fine margins involved hence the short range forecasts being way out on temperature at a specific location at a specific time!

Up track to top of Glencoe doesn't look too bad, but there looks like there needs to be a fair bit to fill up the haggis trap gulleys.

With half term approaching Friday / Saturday's storm system looks like it will be defining for the 2018/19 season. Scenarios literally range from 70 to 80cm of snow in the West Highland mountains to 3 inches of rain on the higher mountains!

It will be a very close run thing and a wider concern is that significant snow will fall at most levels to be followed without any consolidation by intense rain and Severe Gales. The rapid rain / wind enhanced thaw concentrating days of precipitation into a short period with the flooding risks that entails.

The best outcome from the snowsports point of view is somewhere between the extremes. We could do with a period of very wet heavy snowfall driven into gullies and downslope by ferocious winds and/or a period of heavy snow, snap thaw/freeze at all levels, then more snow on top.

Fingers crossed for some of the white stuff.

I know its so unreliable, but snow-forecast gone from 29cm of snow tonight down to 8cm

Any more updates on the storm Erik thats on its way?

Things not looking good unfortunately.
Really need mid-term to turn this season around.
Hope we are not in for a one average season out of 3 scenario.
Glenshee might be looking for new investment if we miss out again!

Glencoe upper mountain looks to have gained massively already today. I'd imagine they'll have summit to Chair riding after this storm.

All is not lost.

The forecast for next week is looking grim with tropical temps, hoping the forecast changes, so far its been below par season, unless March and April come really good.

Pretty disastrous outlook for the resorts from Tuesday onwards. Might not be much left by the time the temps drop back down again. Not a good season for Scotland unfortunately.

Used tae dump whenever Harley started tae give up, the lack of CAPITALS might no appease the snow gods though....

So back to square one then.

Well there might be a few days respite from the thaw early next week if anything survives till then, but thereafter it all looks Feb 2012ish which ultimately lead to there being no lift served riding by the end of February. There after a basically a dry March followed to record the first ever March since mechanised skiing begun where not a single lift turned in anger for skiers.

The best conditions of the season of course came late April and through much of May on CairnGorm... this year there is no funicular!









Edited 1 times. Last edit at 14.06hrs Wed 13 Feb 19 by alan.

Attachments: MT8_Aberdeen_ens-2019.02.13.06.png (31kB)  

The forecasts until end of February and early March is looking very grim, As Alan rightly said its a looking like a repeat of February 2012 where all the snow in 5 ski resorts was wiped out, unless the snow factory keeps on producing some snow to offer limited terrain, So far a very disappointing season.

So are long term forecasts showing any sign of snow or is that it for the peak season and hoping for some late snowfall to get any skiing in?

I need to apologise for cursing it as this is all clearly due to me buying new skis

Don't worry 1873Chris, it might have been me buying a season pass for the first time what done for it...