Ski centres celebrate snow at last after storms and mild weather hit season

THOUSANDS of skiers and boarders headed to Scotland’s slopes yesterday.

Ironically it was the fourth time Glencoe Mountain has started its season this winter because of the fluctuating weather conditions.

But Glencoe Mountain boss Andy Meldrum, who is also chair of Ski Scotland, predicted a good season ahead if the weather settles down.

More than 900 people had flocked to Glencoe by noon.

Heavy snowfalls and calm, cold weather have brought a much-needed boost to Scotland’s outdoor snowsports centres.

Until now, strong winds and high temperatures had hampered many of the site’s efforts to open consistently for skiing, snowboarding and sledging.

All five mountain resort, The Lecht, Glenshee, Nevis Range, Glencoe and Cairngorm, were open yesterday. Lowther Hills Ski Club at Leadhills has also been offering snowsports, including at night under floodlights.

Mr Meldrum said it was hoped there would be enough snow to last until the end of the season.

Scotland’s outdoor ski season usually runs from December to early April, depending on snowfall.

“Until now, the season had been challenging. This is the fourth time we have opened this season and the numbers are about the same as last year, which was a bad season,” said Mr Meldrum.

“But looking ahead it now looks good. The weather tends to balance itself out over the season and the snow has come in time for half term and hopefully will be there for Easter.

“The conditions are excellent. There are huge amounts of snow. And this time it looks like it’s going to stick.

In April Glencoe Mountain was the last of Scotland’s five main centres to shut for the season.

Mr Meldrum said that while not the worst season in the centre’s history, it was among its top three poorest.

It came as Scotland recorded its coldest night of the year so far as temperatures plunged to minus 10.2C.

Forecasters said the temperature was recorded overnight into yesterday in Braemar, Aberdeenshire.

The Met Office has heightened weather warnings across the UK due to the risk of flooding posed by Storm Dennis tomorrow.

The fourth named storm of 2020 will bring strong winds and heavy rain.