Met Office Issues New Weather Warning for Wales
The Met Office has recently issued a new weather warning for ice in Wales, with temperatures expected to drop below freezing. This warning follows another alert for ice and snow that covered most of the country overnight on Tuesday. The latest warning, affecting mainly north Wales, will be in effect from 4 pm on Wednesday, November 20, until 10 am on Thursday, November 21. The warning cautions, “Icy stretches are expected to form on untreated surfaces during Wednesday evening and overnight into Thursday as temperatures drop below freezing. A few sleet or snow showers are also likely at times, particularly close to coasts.”
People in the affected areas are advised to be prepared for potentially disrupted road and rail travel, as well as the possibility of icy patches on untreated roads, pavements, and cycle paths that could lead to slips and falls. The first snowfall of the winter recently resulted in chaos, with hundreds of schools closed in north Wales and road closures. Met Office Chief Meteorologist Neil Armstrong emphasised the ongoing winter hazards due to cold Arctic air over the UK and indicated that updates to warnings are likely in the coming days.
Areas affected by the latest weather warning in Wales include Conwy, Denbighshire, Flintshire, Gwynedd, Isle of Anglesey, Powys, and Wrexham. The Met Office forecast for Wales outlines that Wednesday evening will remain dry as winds ease, with rain approaching Pembrokeshire by Thursday morning. It will be cold, with the most widespread frost in the east, and temperatures dropping to -3 °C. Thursday will see more cloud cover, with rain moving into southern counties, possibly turning to snow over hills but remaining dry in the north. Blustery winds are expected along the south coast, with a maximum temperature of 6 °C.
The Met Office warns of snow showers likely moving in off windward coasts in the north and east, and drifting into parts of Northern Ireland and Wales, with over 10cm of snow possible over higher ground within the warning areas. Settlements of 1-2cm at lower levels could result in travel disruption. The additional hazard of ice is likely to form quickly on untreated surfaces. As the week progresses, Friday will start frosty with wintry showers easing and sunny intervals emerging. The weekend is anticipated to become wet and windy, possibly with hill snow at times and a milder turn in temperatures.
This new weather warning signifies the continuation of challenging conditions in Wales due to wintry weather. People are urged to stay informed about updates and take necessary precautions to ensure their safety in the face of potential travel disruptions and hazardous conditions. The Met Office will continue to monitor the situation closely and issue further warnings as needed in the coming days. Stay connected with Wales Online for the latest updates on the weather situation in Wales.