What is the Scottish Avalanche Information Service (SAIS) website?

SAIS (sais.gov.uk) is the official source for avalanche, snow, and mountain condition reports in Scotland. It publishes daily observed and forecast reports for the five most popular Scottish mountain areas, plus a continuing pilot for the Torridon area. Use it before heading into the Scottish hills in winter conditions to check avalanche risk and snow stability.

What SAIS provides

• Daily reports combining observed conditions and forecasts, not just historical data.
• Avalanche hazard information for the covered mountain areas.
• Snow and mountain conditions relevant to winter travel and route planning.

Coverage

The site does not claim to cover every Scottish mountain area, so check whether your intended destination falls within the published regions before relying on it.

How to use it

1. Identify your intended mountain area.
2. Open the daily report for that area on sais.gov.uk.
3. Read the observed and forecast avalanche, snow, and mountain conditions together.
4. Factor the hazard information into your route and equipment decisions.

Key limitations to keep in mind

• Reports are area-level, not a substitute for on-the-ground assessment.
• Coverage is limited to the listed popular areas plus the Torridon pilot.
• The site publishes information; it does not make decisions for you.