A9 closed by heavy falls of snow

The A9 has been affected by heavy snowfalls

Police have closed the southbound carriageway of the A9 on the outskirts of Inverness and shut the snow gates at Dalwhinnie to all traffic.

Northern Constabulary said it was dealing with reports of vehicles stuck in snow.

Police have also been taking vehicles over a section of the A9 in Sutherland by convoy because of snow.

Northern Constabulary said conditions on the trunk route north of Helmsdale were difficult.

As well as problems on the A9, police said several other roads in the Highlands were closed by snow.

Among the closures were the A939 Grantown to Tomintoul, the A939 Grantown to Forres, the B869 - Ullapool to Lochinver, and the B869 - Stoer - Drumbeg.

In addition the B871 - Kinbrace to Sire, A836 - Lairg to Tongue, B885 - Struan to Portree, A838 Rhiconich to Durness were also shut due to the weather.

And the A838 - Moyne, the A838 - Gualin, the A984 - Skiag Bridge, the B9007 - Carrbridge - Ferness Road and the A939 at Dorback in Badenoch and the B869 near Lochinver qwere also shut.

The snow gates were closed on the B9007, while the unclassified Kishorn to Applecross road was also shut.

There has also been a warning of more avalanches following the deaths of three climbers last week.

The Mountaineering Council of Scotland (MCofS) said major avalanche activity was expected in Scotland's mountains, especially in the Cairngorms.

Climbing routes

It said the mountains were experiencing unprecedented amounts of snowfall and the avalanche risk was high.

On 30 December, teachers Rupert Rosedale, 37, from Wiltshire and 34-year-old William Wilkinson from Inverness were swept to their deaths on Ben Nevis.

Chris Astill, 54, from Derbyshire, died in hospital following a separate avalanche on Liathach in Torridon the same day.

Information on avalanche conditions are posted on the Sportscotland Avalanche Information Service (SAIS) website.

The SAIS warned last week that a condition known as hoar surface had raised the risk of avalanches.

Ice climbing routes which had not been seen for several years were again available, while other climbs were too difficult to reach because of deep snow, the MCofS said.

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