2 days Ago By [email protected] (Cathy Owen)
The snow alert that covers the majority of Wales over three days this weekend has been updated to include a warning about freezing rain. A three-day yellow warning for snow covers all of Wales, apart from Anglesey , and is in place from noon on Saturday until 9am on Monday. There is the threat of what the Met Office describes as "disruptive snow" for the weekend.
The forecasting agency's forecast for Wales this weekend says: "Largely dry on Saturday but rain, preceded by snow, likely arriving later. Disruptive snow possible but probably turning back to rain Sunday." The warning says that outbreaks of rain spreading progressively northeastwards later on Saturday and overnight into Sunday will likely be preceded by a spell of snow on its northern flank.
Get the latest Welsh headlines delivered free to your email inbox . It states: "Whilst there is some uncertainty, any snow in southern and eastern parts of England, especially at low levels, will probably be rather transient before turning back to rain. However, some significant accumulations of snow are possible across parts of Wales, the Midlands and northern England in particular, at least for a time, where 5 cm or more could accumulate fairly widely, with perhaps as much as 20-30 cm over high ground of mid and north Wales and potentially 30-40 cm over parts of the Pennines.
This, accompanied by strengthening winds, may lead to drifting of lying snow." The updated warning also says: "In addition, as milder air moves northwards, snow may turn to a spell of freezing rain for a time, again more especially across parts of Wales, the Midlands and northern England, adding to the risk of ice and leading to some treacherous conditions in places. A fairly rapid thaw of lying snow is possible later on Sunday, although exactly how far north the rapid thaw will reach remains uncertain at this stage.
" Weather maps show where the snow is set to fall here. The Met Office says that snowy, wintry weather can cause delays and make driving conditions dangerous, so to keep yourself and others safe: plan your route, check for delays and road closures, and amend your travel plans if necessary. If driving, the agency recommends leaving more time to prepare and check your car before setting off; make sure you have essentials packed in your car in the event of any delays (warm clothing, food, water, a blanket, a torch, ice scraper/de-icer, a warning triangle, high visibility vest and an in-car phone charger).
They also say: "Keep yourself and your family safe when it is icy. Plan to leave the house at least five minutes earlier than normal to reduce your risk of accidents, slips, and falls. If making a journey on foot, try to use pavements along main roads which are likely to be less slippery.
Similarly, if cycling, try and stick to main roads which are more likely to have been treated." Be prepared for weather warnings to change quickly: when a weather warning is issued, the Met Office recommends staying up to date with the weather forecast in your area. Join our WhatsApp news community here for the latest breaking news.
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