Wales weather: Snow could return in time for Easter

Snow which caused widespread disruption in north and mid Wales in recent days could return in time for Easter, forecasters have warned.

Next Friday could see snow in the south of the UK and it is likely to stay cold over the holiday weekend.

Health officials say normal services should resume at Wrexham Maelor Hospital after operations were cancelled last Friday.

About 6,000 homes lost power and hundreds of schools were closed.

Ice was the main risk on Monday morning following Friday and Saturday's heavy snow, which extended from north and mid Wales and into some parts of the south Wales valleys and Monmouthshire.

Forecasters say Monday remained cold but mostly dry with some snow flurries possible, mainly in the east.

For the rest of the week it will be cold and windy and there is a lot of uncertainty about the forecast later.

Forecasters say there will be a more Atlantic influence trying to push in with an outside risk of snow for Friday, but that could fall to the south of the UK.

However, it will possibly be a little less cold over the Easter weekend.

Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (BCUHB) said it expected to resume normal services at Wrexham Maelor on Monday after appointments had to be cancelled on Friday.

People banded together to clear the streets of snow over the weekend

"The car parks have been cleared with the help of Wrexham council, but we would encourage staff, visitors and patients coming to the hospital to car share if possible," said the health board.

"We would like to express our gratitude to all our staff who have made exceptional efforts to keep patients safe.

"This has been done with the help of others, especially staff from Wrexham council who have been keeping the grounds and roads around the hospital clear."

Treacherous roads

On Monday, many roads across north Wales remained treacherous and some impassable, particularly minor routes.

Denbighshire council said a number of main roads were closed and the priority was to reopen the A5, which remained shut between Corwen and Llangollen. Crews were battling to get through to a number of fallen trees to remove them.

The council said it was hopeful the Horseshoe Pass will be cleared later on Monday. Many smaller routes, especially in the south of the county, remained impassable.

Other roads affected include:

• B5430 Nant-y-Garth is passable with care

• A5104 is open but workers are continuing to widen the carriageway

• B5437 Carrog to Corwen is open, but not from Carrog to Bryneglwys

• Eryrys to Graianrhyd is open

• A543 Denbigh Moors is closed

• B4501 Denbigh to Cerrigydrudion is closed

• Travellers Inn to Tremeirchion off the A55 is still closed.

A family of four, including a baby, who were stranded on a hillside farm outside Wrexham for days were also airlifted to safety on Sunday.

They burned old furniture to keep warm. Drifts up to about 8ft (2.5m) had prevented them from driving away.

Denbighshire council said teams were working around the clock to clear the road network.

It said resources were "stretched" and so salt boxes would not be refilled.

Disruption to some services is expected on Monday with Flintshire council saying its day centres are closed.

The council also urged people to be good neighbours and check on elderly and vulnerable residents.

While 200 schools were closed on Friday, pupils in the areas affected have now started their Easter holidays.