Wind and rain add to disruption after ice hits south Wales roads

Snow on the Metropole Hotel in Llandrindod Wells on Thursday

Strong winds and heavy rain are adding to disruption for drivers around Wales caused by earlier icy conditions.

The M48 Severn Bridge was closed in both directions and the Cleddau Bridge was shut to high-sided vehicles.

Motorists were warned to be careful after a spate of road crashes early on Friday.

The A470 was closed near Merthyr Tydfil after a collision between a car and a lorry, and the fire service said ice was causing problems in other areas.

Later on in the day, wind and rain were adding to poor driving conditions.

Gusts of 78mph (125km/h) were reached at Capel Curig in Snowdonia and 66mph (106km/h) was recorded in Aberporth, Ceredigion.

Coastguards warned that winds could reach storm force 10 overnight.

The day began with freezing conditions causing hazardous driving conditions .

Incidents on Friday included:

• On the A470 a lorry and a car were in a collision, which closed the road between the A465 Heads Of The Valleys road at the Cefn Coed roundabout and the A4059 at Penderyn mountain road.

• There was also a five-vehicle crash which closed the westbound A465 near Hirwaun.

• There were tailbacks after a crash on the M4 eastbound between J47 Swansea West and J46 A48 Llangyfelach.

• Fire crews were also called after a vehicle collided with the central reservation at the Abercynon roundabout on the A470 at 06:30 GMT.

• A vehicle overturned, closing the A4067 at Glais in Swansea just after 06:00 GMT but the road had reopened by 08:00.

• Fire crews were called to another two-vehicle collision at Robertstown Aberdare, saying there was black ice in the area.

There was heavy snow at Llysdinam, Powys, on Thursday

Ice left the Bwlch mountain road treacherous along with the A4058 between Porth and Tymawr Road Pontypridd.

On Friday evening there were several flood alerts in force, including two for the River Teifi and two for coastal areas.

With spring tides around 22:00 GMT, alerts have been issued for the Gwynedd coast between Caernarfon and Aberdovey and the western coast of Anglesey.

Natural Resources Wales (NRW) has urged people to remain vigilant, and says further flood alerts and warnings are likely to be issued.

The ground is already saturated and river levels are high so extra rain could lead to further localised flooding.

On Thursday, heavy snow caused problems in Powys.

Dyfed-Powys Police closed the A4518 Machynlleth to Dylife road due to "treacherous conditions" after a car left the road and went into a ditch.

Another car spun off the road in snow near the Crai reservoir on the A4067.