Heavy snow forecast for Wales this weekend

Fields covered in snowImage source, BBC Weather Watchers/ Janey Liz
Image caption,

Snowy scenes such as this one in Nantglyn, Denbighshire in November, could be on the cards this weekend

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Heavy snow is expected to hit Wales this weekend, with a yellow weather warning in place for the whole country.

Snowfall of up to 30cm (12in) is forecast for some areas, with about 5cm (2in) expected more widely.

A Wales-wide warning for snow is in place between 12:00 GMT on Saturday and 23:59 GMT on Sunday.

The Met Office has also issued a yellow warning for ice from 18:00 on Thursday until 10:00 on Friday, while flood alerts, external apply to some parts of the country.

The forecaster said there was a "some uncertainty" over how long snow would last, but warned power cuts and travel delays were possible and urged people to prepare in advance for adverse conditions.

It said Wales was one of the areas most at risk of disruption, along with north England and the Midlands, with high ground expected to be hardest hit and drifting possible due to strong winds.

It comes after wind gusts of up to 75mph (120km/h) were predicted across Wales on New Year's Day and another yellow weather warning issued.

Image source, BBC Weather Watchers/slider
Image caption,

Flooded roads such as here in Meifod, Powys, led to travel disruption on New Year's Day

On New Year's Day, Natural Resources Wales urged people not to travel to its forests and reserves due to high winds.

The A487 from Machynlleth, Gwynedd to Furnace, Ceredigion, was closed on Wednesday afternoon due to flooding.

A tree blocking the railway at Llanwrtyd, Powys, meant trains between Swansea and Shrewsbury may be cancelled or revised, Transport for Wales said, adding other services may also be disrupted due to weather.

Image caption,

A landslip on the A470 led to some disruption to start the year for drivers in Gwynedd

A suspected landslip on the A470 between Dolgellau and Mallwyd in Gwynedd caused some traffic delays, as well as flooding on the A494 at Pont Lliw near Llanuwchllyn, which has since receded and the road fully reopened.

At about 08:00, firefighters were called to the B5106 near Llanrwst, Conwy county, where a vehicle had driven into flood water and become stuck.

The two rescued occupants were cold but unharmed, the fire service said.

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