Wales gets colder with chance of snow, say forecasters

Weather Watcher Granddadscott from Llanbister, Powys, sent a wintry scene to the BBC at the weekend

Wales is braced for temperatures to plummet this week with frost on Monday night and a possibility of snow later this week.

The Met Office said temperatures would be "colder than average", dipping to lows of -2C (28F).

BBC weather presenter Sabrina Lee said there was a "cold week in store" for Wales.

The change in weather has caused concern for households struggling to pay their heating bills.

Wales weather forecast, by the BBC's Sabrina Lee

We've got a colder week in store, with the return of frost and icy stretches.

With the cold air locked in place, any weather fronts that push across the country will bring the chance for some rain, sleet and snow.

The period we're keeping an eye on is Thursday onwards, but right now there is still a lot of uncertainty in the forecast.

Some weather models have several centimetres of snow in the forecast, others have very little.

When do I get my winter fuel payment?

Household energy bills will rise again in January and some government support that was available for people last year has been withdrawn.

• What are cost-of-living payments and who gets them?

• What help is available with energy bills?

• Households could be paid to turn down heating

Last year, each household received £400 of support over six months from the UK government. No equivalent scheme has been announced this year.

Some of the schemes provided by the Welsh government last year will also not be repeated as they are not being funded by the UK government.

This includes a £200 payment made to low-income households by councils and a £150 cost-of-living payment.

National Energy Action's Wales director Ben Saltmarsh said: "With the Autumn Statement devoid of any targeted energy bill support and prices set to rise in January, many in Wales are simply left hoping for a mild winter to avoid serious hardship.

"They can no longer afford to heat and power their homes to safe, comfortable levels. And their health pays the price."

He called on the UK government to "help make energy more affordable for low-income households" while adding that counterparts in Wales had to "ensure that its next Warm Homes Programme is up and running as soon as possible".

Welsh government energy bill support

The Discretionary Assistance Fund provides grants for those in extreme hardship to help pay for gas, and electricity. Applicants can be awarded a maximum of three payments in a year, ranging from £56 for a single-person household to £111 for households of three or more.

For those on pre-paid meters, the fuel bank foundation, which the Welsh government helped fund, provides grants to support low-income households at risk of being disconnected.

Vouchers worth £49 are available in winter, with pre-payment meter households receiving up to three vouchers over a six-month period. The scheme also helps customers off the gas grid and who rely on alternative fuel such as heating oil.

The Warm Homes programme funds energy efficiency improvements via the Welsh government's Nest scheme.

What UK government energy bill support is available?

The Warm Home Discount scheme offers low-income households and those vulnerable to cold-related illness one-off energy bill rebates of £150.

Older people will receive a winter fuel payment of between £250 and £600.

Most eligible people get the payment automatically and receive a letter in October or November saying how much they will get.

Most people are paid in November or December.

A Cold Weather Payment helps people on certain benefits if temperature drops to or below zero for seven consecutive days. Those eligible will get £25 for each seven-day period of very cold weather between 1 November and 31 March.

Additional reporting by Antonia Matthews.

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