Whiteout conditions are likely on Britain's mountains today
Winter has arrived in many parts of Britain, with snow and high winds affecting many upland areas.
Plas y Brenin, the national mountain centre at Capel Curig, posted a Tweet warning walkers to go equipped for winter conditions as many peaks in Snowdonia were covered in snow.
Lake District webcams were also showing the Old Man of Coniston range, the Langdale Pikes and Skiddaw with a cloak of snow. A heavy covering was also reported on the Kirkstone Pass between Windermere and Patterdale.
The M74 at Beattock had enough of the white stuff covering its carriageways to cause motorists difficulty and the snow gates have been closed on the A93 between Glenshee and Braemar.
High winds are causing snowdrifts which are adding to difficulties for motorists.
None of Scotland’s ski resorts have yet reopened, though heavy snowfalls have been reported at CairnGorm Mountain.
Mountaineer Alan Hinkes, the first Briton to summit the world’s 8,000m peaks, Tweeted: “Maelstrom of wind and sleet on the north Pennine tops – a good day for a testing hillwalk.”
The Mountain Weather Information Service was today forecasting whiteout conditions in most mountain areas throughout the day. Windchill as low as –17C was possible on the tops, with gale-force winds adding to walkers’ and mountaineers’ challenging conditions.
The intense low pressure centred on England will continue to provide high winds and frequent showers on Tuesday, with a brief high-pressure ridge should see finer, cool conditions on Wednesday, with a return to more upland gales and further snow on Scotland’s mountains from Thursday, with some freeze-thaw cycles developing on the Scottish tops.
