Wales weather: Snow hits ahead of more rain and gales

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Bwlch y Garreg, PowysImage source, Shareen Moule
Image caption,

Snow fell on high ground at Bwlch-y-Garreg near Llanidloes in Powys overnight

Snowfall early on Tuesday has affected travel around some parts of Wales, with heavy rain and coastal gales forecast in the next 24 hours.

Some roads are blocked by water and snow, and fire crews are dealing with several flooding incidents.

A yellow "be aware" warning, external for snow has been issued for mid and north Wales on Tuesday and Wednesday morning.

A yellow warning for heavy rain, strong winds and gales is also in place for south west and south east Wales.

Image source, Rob Mills
Image caption,

Snow ploughs were out on the A44 around Ponterwyd early on Tuesday

There are two flood warnings and 19 flood alerts, external in force.

The Natural Resources Wales warnings are for the River Wye at Monmouth and the Lower Dee Valley from Llangollen to Trevalyn Meadows.

Further warnings about strong winds have been issued by the Met Office for Wednesday.

Snow fell across parts of mid and north Wales on Tuesday morning including Ceredigion, Powys and Gwynedd, with some roads closed or only passable with care as a result.

The A44 was closed for a time after a lorry became stuck in snow at Capel Bangor in Ceredigion between the A4159 and the A4120 at Ponterwyd.

The A470 between the Storey Arms and Libanus was partially blocked on Tuesday afternoon after two accidents in the snow. One car left the road and the other accident involved two cars.

The Met Office said the snow could continue into Wednesday.

Flooding was also a problem with Mid and West Wales Fire Service dealing with several incidents.

Crews in Powys pumped water away from a street in Brecon and Duffryn Crawnen in Crickhowell, and dealt with flooding at the Royal Oak Inn in Presteigne.

The cellar at the The Old Station Inn in Cymmer, Neath Port Talbot, also had to have water pumped out.

Image source, Nick Butler
Image caption,

Monmouth town centre was affected by flooding on Tuesday

Image source, Rob Mills
Image caption,

Some roads were closed for a while by the snowfall

Image caption,

Dylife in Powys saw some sunshine after the snow earlier

Image source, Shareen Moule
Image caption,

Near Bwlch y Garreg in Powys. More snow is forecast overnight ahead of heavy rain on Wednesday

Firefighters in Powys also went to flooding incidents in the Norton area and at Llangynidr.

A man was also rescued from flood water in Llandogo in Monmouthshire after he had driven his van into two feet of water.

Brynllywarch Hall School in Newtown closed to pupils because of bad weather while in Gwynedd, Ysgol Llandwrog closed due to a power cut.

BT said parts of west, south west and north Wales which had been particularly affected by storms had experienced fault levels going up by 30% for telephone and broadband services because of damage to overhead and underground lines.

"Engineers for Openreach throughout Wales are working hard to repair those lines affected as quickly as possible, and additional engineers have been drafted in from less badly affected areas to bolster the workforce," the company said in a statement.

Other incidents included:

  • In south east Wales, the A4042 was closed due to flooding between the A40 Monmouth Road/A465 Heads of the Valleys and the B4269 at Llanellen after temporary traffic lights disappeared under water

  • Flooding closed the A525 between Bangor-on-Dee and Cross Lane in Wrexham county

  • The A490 in both directions was closed due to flooding between the A458/A483 at Sarn Bryn Caled roundabout, Welshpool, and the B4388 at Cilcewydd Bridge

  • A number of B roads were closed either by flooding or snow and ice

  • Restrictions were in place on the M48 Severn Bridge due to strong crosswinds, but it remains open

  • Flooding on the main line from south Wales to London between Reading and Paddington station caused some delays and cancellations to services. Passengers were being warned to check before travelling, or to consider alternative routes

Areas which could be hit by snow are Blaenau Gwent, Caerphilly, Ceredigion, Conwy, Denbighshire, Flintshire, Gwynedd, Anglesey, Merthyr Tydfil, Monmouthshire, Powys, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Torfaen and Wrexham.

On Wednesday, a more serious amber warning, meaning "be prepared", for strong wind, external is in force for mid, south east and south west Wales.

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