Plunging temperatures could lead to a super skiing weekend

glenshee: Cold snap could see more than 1,000 people heading for slopes

Staff at Scotland’s biggest ski resort are gearing up for an influx of snowsport lovers this weekend.

Wintry conditions at Glenshee Ski Centre throughout the past week have already led to enough snowfall for several runs to open, with management now hoping more than 1,000 people will flock to the site at the weekend.

Hundreds have already made their way to the resort this week, with six runs on the Cairnwell side of the resort open yesterday morning.

Staff also captured Gopro footage on Wednesday from a “snow mover” showing the incredible conditions.

And the runs are expected to continue filling in today and into the weekend, with freezing temperatures forecast in the coming days.

The centre’s finance manager Sarah Mcguire said management are hoping “at least” 1,000 skiers and snowboarders will make their way to the resort across tomorrow and Sunday.

Mrs Mcguire added: “It is looking pretty good at the moment. We have got six runs open on the Cairnwell side. We are hoping to get Sunnyside up and running for the weekend.

“We are definitely planning to be open at the weekend. A bit more snow is forecast Friday and Saturday. Temperatures have been stuck quite low. It is looking to continue and any snow will add to what we have got.

“We were open on Wednesday and today. We have had a good number of people in, considering folk are back to work. It is looking promising.”

Mrs Mcguire added the resort is hoping for a bumper year after the 2016-17 winter season ended in disappointment following mild weather across Scotland.

“It was quite a shambles last season so it would be good to be able to open early,” she said. “There was a couple of days in December we managed to get open.”

Though Glenshee doesn’t have a “Snow Factory”, staff have been taking advantage of the freezing conditions by using snow cannons to add to what has already landed.

The Met Office said the area could see temperatures as low as -10C in the coming days, with freezing air moving into Scotland from the north.

Forecaster Grahame Madge said: “We are likely to see further showers coming into Friday. These, over the high ground, will fall as snow above 250m (820ft). Not huge amounts.

“As we go into the weekend I think the potential for large amounts of snowfall will subside a little, but there is always the chance that showers coming in will be falling as snow.

“From Saturday onward we are going to see temperatures in Braemar struggling to get above freezing.”

We have had a good number of people in, considering folk are back to work. It is looking promising. SARAH MCGUIRE, GLENSHEE SKI CENTRE

Pictures: Kim Cessford. Skiers and snowboarders make the most of snowy conditions in Glenshee, including, above top, Ralph and Louie Henderson from Dundee.