Highland Winter Road Conditions Report - Saturday 3 January 2026
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
Met Office Weather Warnings
The Met Office have an amber weather warning in force for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross until midday today (Saturday 3 January 2026) for snow.
A Yellow warning for snow and ice is in force until Monday 5 January 2026 for the whole Highland area.
For the latest weather reports, please visit the Met Office website.
Winter Gritting Policy
We manage the longest road network of any council in Scotland. Because of the sheer distances involved, it is not possible for us to treat every single road simultaneously. To keep the region moving safely, we work to a strict priority system.
Highland Road Conditions Report - Saturday 3 January 2026
Inverness (05:40) Caution advised over whole network this morning with all roads in the area covered with snow overnight. Covering all weekend routes and footpaths. No known issues at this time.
Nairn (05:40) Caution advised over whole network this morning with all roads in area covered with snow overnight. Covering all weekend routes and footpaths. No known issues at this time.
Badenoch and Strathspey (07:05) Snow on all roads across the network. Weekend routes and footpaths being treated. No overnight issues.
Wester Ross, Strathpeffer and Lochlash (07:07) Overnight snowfall has resulted in widespread snow cover across the entire network, with significant difting in places. Caution advised. All weekend routes and footpaths are being covered. No overnight issues reported.
Caithness (07:25) Snow affecting the whole of the county this morning. B874 Halkirk to A9 junction still closed due to drifting snow. Many other roads affected by drifting snow this morning. All weekend routes and footpaths being treated this morning. With snow showers and strong winds expected to continue, police have urged drivers not to drive unless absolutely necessary.
Lochaber (07:29) Caution advised over whole network this morning with all the roads in the area covered with snow overnight. Treatment being carried out on all weekend routes and some footpaths. No overnight issues.
Ross and Cromaty (East) (07:33) Snow covering on all routes this morning with reports of a further 4-6 inches on east routes with hard compacted snow on selected routes and drifting in places. All routes being treated as resources permit and conditions allow. Full caution advised across the network. All roads remain open in the area at this tme but updates will be provided throughout the day.
Skye and Raasay (08:56) Cold night with additional snow showers throughout the area resulting in a mix of fresh snow and icy patches. Treatment ongoing on all weekend routes and drivers should exercise caution on all routes.
Sutherland (10:21) Snow on all roads in the area this morning with 3-4 inches on the low ground, with deeper snow on high ground and in drfits. Snow drifts in places across the area. All weekend routes and footpaths are being treated in line with policy. A897 and B9176 remain closed.
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Information and flooding advice is available on our website
Information on weather warnings is available on the Met Office website
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For information on power cuts, visit SSEN website
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