THE lack of snow in Scotland over the festive period has had a devastating affect on ski resorts and local businesses heavily reliant on the white stuff for survival over the winter months.

Ski centres across the country have barely opened at all because of the unusually high temperatures but it could be about to change as weather experts predict a dip in temperatures with snow on the way.

Heavy snow began falling at the summit of the Cairngorm Mountain Resort on Sunday as temperatures plummeted to -6C but high winds of up to 105mph could be blowing the snow into the wrong areas.

Janette Jansson, general manager of the Cairngorm Mountain Resort, said: “Things are starting to look more positive, we’ve had a bit of snowfall at the summit and up to -6C temperatures so hopefully we will get some skiing in this weekend, it won’t be at lower levels, it will be up by the Ptarmigan.

“For the last 10 years, this is the latest we have ever opened for full ski, every other year it has either been early November or early December, so it is quite devastating actually for the ski resorts.

“People have still been coming to the resort because there is still a nice mountain experience but a lot of people are rescheduling still hoping we will get snow.

“Our guys are doing everything possible to get people out on the slopes. We have not been open at all but we had one day where could do standing lessons last Tuesday.

“It affects the whole valley, Aviemore and the surrounding areas. Clients that are coming to the hotels cancel because they’re not going to travel if there is no snow.

“Business-wise and economically for the village and ourselves, of course it has a negative affect, but we just have to understand that it is not just happening to us.

“We have been gathering the snow and had our snow cannons out to create snow but the temperatures aren’t always low enough for us to do that. The temperatures have been high for this time of the year but we do have minus temperatures now up at the summit which is a good sign but the winds can blow the snow to the wrong areas.

“We are positive and it is looking good over the next 10 days. There is snow at the summit but not enough for skiing. We get a lot of European visitors but there is a big percentage from Scotland and down south as well. We are prepared and ready for the snow when it comes.”

A family from Dumfries who have just returned from Aviemore said it was like a “ghost town” because of the lack of snow.

They told The National: “We went up there for skiing and snowsports but when we turned up there wasn’t a flake of snow to be seen so we just had to make do with clay pigeon shooting and getting drunk.

“We met several people from Norway who had travelled for the skiing and they were gutted when there wasn’t any. There’s not an awful lot to do in the winter up there if you’ve booked for the skiing. We spent a lot of time in the pubs and restaurants and the hospitality was excellent.”

The Nevis Range marketing manager Heather Negus said: “As soon as we have enough snow we will be open. We have been open for one day last Sunday and we have a dry slope which is open.

“We just have to wait for the snow to arrive and get on with all our preparations.”

Glencoe and Glenshee are also closed with reports of “a bit of snow but it keeps melting away”.

The Met Office confirmed that snow was on its way for Thursday and there should be a “big dump of snow on the hills”.