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Wales snow: Schools and roads shut, thousands without power Wales snow: Schools and roads shut, thousands without power
(35 minutes later)
Heavy snow has closed more than 1,200 schools across Wales and is continuing to cause travel disruption.Heavy snow has closed more than 1,200 schools across Wales and is continuing to cause travel disruption.
Roads are treacherous, many train and bus services are suspended and power cuts have hit thousands of households.Roads are treacherous, many train and bus services are suspended and power cuts have hit thousands of households.
Some 10,000 customers are without power in parts of south Wales because of faults caused by the weather.Some 10,000 customers are without power in parts of south Wales because of faults caused by the weather.
Pembrokeshire is most affected, with Carmarthenshire, Swansea, Bridgend, Cardiff, Vale of Glamorgan and the south Wales valleys hit too.Pembrokeshire is most affected, with Carmarthenshire, Swansea, Bridgend, Cardiff, Vale of Glamorgan and the south Wales valleys hit too.
The Met Office issued a rare red warning warning of snow and blizzards. The Met Office issued a rare red warning for snow and blizzards.
The warning, which advises all non-essential travel be avoided, applies to the south eastern side of the Brecon Beacons and Black Mountains.The warning, which advises all non-essential travel be avoided, applies to the south eastern side of the Brecon Beacons and Black Mountains.
This will remain until 21:00 GMT on Friday, with up to a foot of snow expected on higher ground.This will remain until 21:00 GMT on Friday, with up to a foot of snow expected on higher ground.
The Met Office added that strong south-easterly winds could also cause severe drifting of lying snow "and severe disruption".The Met Office added that strong south-easterly winds could also cause severe drifting of lying snow "and severe disruption".
A band of snow spread across much of Wales during Friday morning and was due to last through the afternoon and evening.A band of snow spread across much of Wales during Friday morning and was due to last through the afternoon and evening.
There is an amber warning covering most of the country, which means around 5 to 10cm (2 to 4 in) of snow is expected.There is an amber warning covering most of the country, which means around 5 to 10cm (2 to 4 in) of snow is expected.
Snow began to fall in south Wales at 02:30 GMT causing disruption to road travel with warnings of hazardous conditions in many areas.Snow began to fall in south Wales at 02:30 GMT causing disruption to road travel with warnings of hazardous conditions in many areas.
The M4 was closed by police in both directions between junctions 36 and 37 at Bridgend but was reopened later.The M4 was closed by police in both directions between junctions 36 and 37 at Bridgend but was reopened later.
The runway at Cardiff Airport was also closed for much of the morning because of snow but reopened.The runway at Cardiff Airport was also closed for much of the morning because of snow but reopened.
Passengers were urged to check the Cardiff Airport website for updates because of ongoing disruption to services. Passengers are urged to check the Cardiff Airport website for updates because of ongoing disruption to services.
Meanwhile, many href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-21068262" >schools have been closed, including all in Neath Port Talbot, nearly all in Torfaen and most in Swansea. Some train routes have been affected with href="http://www.journeycheck.com/arrivatrainswales" >Arriva Trains Wales warning of problems at locations including Ystrad Mynach, Caerphilly, Abercynon, Cardiff and Tondu.
Some train routes have been affected with Arriva Trains Wales warning of disruption to local services to Cardiff, Llandudno, Ninian Park, Tondu, between Maesteg and Bridgend, between Abercynon South and Aberdare, and between Abercynon South and Merthyr Tydfil.
There is disruption to services between Penarth and Rhymney due to a fallen tree on the line at Lisvane, and signalling problems at Ystrad Mynach.
"Whilst we are closely monitoring the weather situation which may result in short notice delays and cancellations, we are working very hard to run services as close to our normal timetable as possible," said a spokesperson."Whilst we are closely monitoring the weather situation which may result in short notice delays and cancellations, we are working very hard to run services as close to our normal timetable as possible," said a spokesperson.
First Great Western is also warning of possible moderate disruption to services in the Cardiff to Bristol area on Friday morning.First Great Western is also warning of possible moderate disruption to services in the Cardiff to Bristol area on Friday morning.
Cardiff Bus said it was planning to run services as normally as possible but warned of some alterations to the normal timetable.Cardiff Bus said it was planning to run services as normally as possible but warned of some alterations to the normal timetable.
There is also some disruption to First Cymru Buses in west Wales, while Stagecoach Buses said none of its services are operating.There is also some disruption to First Cymru Buses in west Wales, while Stagecoach Buses said none of its services are operating.
Services in Newport are also affected and Traveline says no buses are operating in Powys.Services in Newport are also affected and Traveline says no buses are operating in Powys.
Many roads were treacherous and there were reports of delays caused by snow and weather-related accidents.Many roads were treacherous and there were reports of delays caused by snow and weather-related accidents.
The A470 was closed in both directions at Merthyr Tydfil and also northbound at the Abercynon roundabout.
  • The A470 was closed in both directions at Merthyr Tydfil and also northbound at the Abercynon roundabout.
  • A caller to Jason Mohammad's Radio Wales programme said she had been trying to drive the 14 miles from Beddau near Pontypridd to work in Cardiff but was still on the road three hours later. She said it was because a lorry had jack-knifed on the A4232 near Cardiff causing major hold ups.
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  • Pembrokeshire Council appealed to HGV drivers to avoid the A478 between Penblewin roundabout (near Narberth) and Cardigan because of snow.
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  • The A44 was closed in both directions at Llangurig in Powys while the A478 in west Wales was described as "atrocious" because of overturned vehicles.
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  • The A48 was closed in both directions at Stormy Down, Bridgend, with traffic queues.
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  • The A44 was closed in both directions at Crossgates in Powys.
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  • The A542 Horseshoe Pass in Denbighshire was closed in both directions closed due to snow between Llangollen and Llandegla.
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  • The A4061 Bwlch and Rhigos mountain roads are closed in both directions.
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A caller to Jason Mohammad's Radio Wales programme said she had been trying to drive the 14 miles from Beddau near Pontypridd to work in Cardiff but was still on the road three hours later. Meanwhile, many href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-21068262" >schools have been closed, including all in Neath Port Talbot, nearly all in Torfaen and most in Swansea.
She said it was because a lorry had jack-knifed on the A4232 near Cardiff causing major hold ups. However, at Ysgol y Berwyn in Bala, Gwynedd, teachers stayed with family and friends in Bala to ensure the school was open to those sitting A-levels.
Pembrokeshire Council appealed to HGV drivers to avoid the A478 between Penblewin roundabout (near Narberth) and Cardigan because of snow. Many university and college campuses were also closed because of the weather, including Cardiff Metropolitan University.
The A44 was closed in both directions at Llangurig in Powys while the A478 in west Wales was described as "atrocious" because of overturned vehicles.
Meanwhile, the Welsh Ambulance Service (WAS) asked for their service to be used "sensibly" and only for "genuine cases" while St John Cymru Wales volunteers have been helping the ambulance service.Meanwhile, the Welsh Ambulance Service (WAS) asked for their service to be used "sensibly" and only for "genuine cases" while St John Cymru Wales volunteers have been helping the ambulance service.
Cardiff and Vale University Health Board have cancelled all routine outpatient clinics at the University Hospital of Wales and University Hospital Llandough.Cardiff and Vale University Health Board have cancelled all routine outpatient clinics at the University Hospital of Wales and University Hospital Llandough.
Urgent outpatient services - including acute renal, acute paediatric and acute oncology clinics - will go ahead as planned with support from the Wales Ambulance Service Trust.Urgent outpatient services - including acute renal, acute paediatric and acute oncology clinics - will go ahead as planned with support from the Wales Ambulance Service Trust.
Patients are being assured their appointments will be "rescheduled as soon as practicable".Patients are being assured their appointments will be "rescheduled as soon as practicable".
All outpatient appointments in the Cwm Taf Health Board area have also been cancelled due to the weather.All outpatient appointments in the Cwm Taf Health Board area have also been cancelled due to the weather.
Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University Health Board says it will be focusing on emergency and urgent care services, and cancelling outpatient clinics on Friday and Saturday at all its hospitals in Bridgend, Swansea and Neath Port Talbot.Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University Health Board says it will be focusing on emergency and urgent care services, and cancelling outpatient clinics on Friday and Saturday at all its hospitals in Bridgend, Swansea and Neath Port Talbot.
Many university and college campuses were also closed because of the weather, including Cardiff Metropolitan University.
At Swansea Crown Court, judges manned the phones because listings staff could not make it into work.At Swansea Crown Court, judges manned the phones because listings staff could not make it into work.
The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency in Swansea announced it was closed until further notice.The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency in Swansea announced it was closed until further notice.
Powys Council said refuse and recycling crews were diverted to clear snow from pavements in town centres across the county instead.
Thousands of customers are without electricity in south Wales, with Western Power Distribution customers being asked to call the emergency line on 0800 052 0400 if they are in difficulties.Thousands of customers are without electricity in south Wales, with Western Power Distribution customers being asked to call the emergency line on 0800 052 0400 if they are in difficulties.
Phil Davies, of Western Power, said: "The advice is to sit tight. If you are in any difficulty ring our emergency line. We will provide as much help as we can.Phil Davies, of Western Power, said: "The advice is to sit tight. If you are in any difficulty ring our emergency line. We will provide as much help as we can.
"If anybody has a particular difficulty we will do our utmost to get to them and get them back on supply.""If anybody has a particular difficulty we will do our utmost to get to them and get them back on supply."
The main radio transmitter for Carmarthenshire also had power problems leaving over 300,000 people without services before.The main radio transmitter for Carmarthenshire also had power problems leaving over 300,000 people without services before.
It was back in action by late morning with reduced power.It was back in action by late morning with reduced power.
BBC weather presenter Behnaz Akhgar said the main area of concern was the south east Wales valleys and south Powys, where there is a red warning. href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/wales/authors/Derek_Brockway" >BBC Wales meteorologist Derek Brockway said that Tirabad in Powys saw over 26cm (10in) of snow up until 11:00 GMT on Friday, with much bigger drifts due to strong winds.
"This is very rare as it's a top level warning," she said. "So in those areas we could see more roads closing and becoming impassable. "The snow is moving north-east today with further accumulations, especially in parts of the south, mid Wales, the north and east - some heavy snow with drifting and blizzards on higher ground," he said.
"There's a high risk of becoming stranded so avoid making unnecessary journeys. "In the south-west, it should turn drier but with showers, these falling mainly as rain or sleet on the coast.
"There's 5-10cm expected widely, and 25-30cm in the red zone. That's a foot of snow. "Temperatures are generally around freezing with fresh to strong winds giving a significant wind chill."
"There's strong south east winds gusting around 40mph so we could see some drifting and blizzards on higher ground. He said that on Friday night, snow in the north and east would gradually ease off.
"The snow will turn to rain across the west. By the afternoon it will be drier in the south with the band sitting across the north." "Elsewhere it will be drier and breezy with a widespread frost, and ice will be a hazard with lying snow and slush freezing as temperatures drop," he said.
Have you been affected by the snow in Wales? Are you making preparations for the coming days? Please send us your comments using the form below.Have you been affected by the snow in Wales? Are you making preparations for the coming days? Please send us your comments using the form below.
Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here.Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here.
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