October Snowfall in Scotland

Scottish ski areas have seen their upper slopes turn white as temperatures dropped before skies cleared as Storm Babet finally blew through after three days and nights.

It’s not unusual for snow in October on Scottish Highland peaks of course and for some this is the second covering of the autumn so far, but the latest falls have raised anticipation levels for the season ahead.

There’s no typical pattern for snowfall in Scotland and more, if there ever was. The only general advice is that late winter and spring can be best if snow has chance to build up, however recent winters have seen some good autumn snowfalls leading to early December openings and some years less snow surviving into spring than used to be the case.

Going back further Scottish ski centres have occasionally managed to open in October, with The Lecht opening on Halloween one year, and the season can last into May.

Long term forecasts are equally uncertain but the “strong El Niño” in the Eastern Pacific might just mean colder and snowier weather in Scotland and northern Europe than an “average winter”. Some studies have found that an El Niño winter tends to deliver that, but it remains hard to predict with any certainty.

Glencoe is pictured top on Saturday, Cairngorm below on Sunday morning. The Cairngorm funicular is currently out of action again due to ‘snagging issues’ following its multi-year, multi-million renovations closures, but operators expect it will be running again in time for the season.