AND NOW FOR THE THAW...
First came the snow – now here comes the slush
THE START TO SPRING WE’LL NEVER FORGET:
AMET Office weather warning for ice remains in place for Wales today as the big freeze thaws out. After fresh snow falls for many overnight on Friday, temperatures began to rise through the day yesterday.
In Cardiff, which has been brought to a standstill by heavy, drifting snow, main routes gradually became passable as the day went on as the thaw melted snow lying on gritted roads and pavements.
And the snow gradually turned to rain as temperatures rose above freezing across Wales.
It meant the focus turned to the potential for localised flooding as drains still blocked by ice and snow stop meltwater from flowing freely.
The Met Office warning for ice is valid until 11am today and covers all of Wales.
Much milder air is moving in from the south though, with temperatures rising to around 10C tomorrow.
The warmer temperatures will be a relief for the NHS in Wales, which has seen the dramatic end to winter triggering a staff crisis.
Now, health boards say they are investigating after claims nurses were charged to stay in student accommodation during Storm Emma.
Health Secretary Vaughan Gething had said he would investigate the allegations, made on social media.
A post by Leighton Jenkins, said: “Some Welsh hospitals are charging those nurses who volunteer to not go home the cost of sleeping in on-site student accommodation (£20-30 a night).
“This is despite the fact they are saving the NHS the cost of sending a 4x4 to collect and return them to their homes.”
But health boards have said it is not true and have praised staff for “going the extra mile” during extreme circumstances.
In a statement Cwm Taf University said: “There have been some claims that some NHS staff are being charged for accommodation if they need to stay overnight because of severe weather.
“We are immensely grateful to all our staff for their dedication to patients in this weather and we would like to make it clear that we are NOT charging any of our staff for accommodation.
“If they have been asked for any payment this is totally unacceptable and they should contact their site manager immediately. In the event any staff have had to pay they will be reimbursed in full.”
The Aneurin Bevan University Health Board posted a message online that read: “Just to be clear, we are NOT charging any of our staff for accommodation . We are also providing meal vouchers for our staff who have needed to stay in work. If anyone has been asked to make any payment they are asked to contact their site manager immediately.
“We are grateful to all our dedicated staff who are going the extra mile to provide first class care.”
When the claims were first made on social media, the health secretary intervened.
He told BBC Radio Wales: “NHS staff who have stayed overnight to try and make sure that their employer – the National Health Service – can continue to function the next day, I just don’t think that should result in a charge to any of our staff who are doing that.
“There is extraordinary public sympathy and support for our National Health Service as people have seen the extraordinary efforts being made to maintain a service for our most vulnerable citizens.”
Four Welsh health boards – Abertawe Bro Morgannwg, Cardiff and Vale, Cwm Taf and Hywel Dda – have all responded to the allegations on social media, rejecting the claim.
“Just to be clear we are NOT charging any of our staff for accommodation,” stated the Cwm Taf board on Twitter.
“We are grateful to all our staff who are going the extra mile to provide first class care.”
The past couple of days has seen unbelievable acts of kindness with strangers with 4x4s coming to the rescue and taking health staff and carers to work.
Meanwhile, shops were able to begin restocking shelves after panicked shoppers bought supplies in readiness for the snow storm.
Delivery drivers in some parts have struggled to drop off deliveries to stores as a result of icy roads, while shoppers panic bought remaining supplies for fear of being snowed in.
Some shop workers went out of their way to make sure stores were opened yesterday morning.
The manageress of one Cardiff Lidl reportedly walk for an hour and a half in the snow to open up the shop.
A South Wales farmer was also offering free milk because the tanker couldn’t make it to his farm at St Brides in the Vale of Glamorgan.
He said: “Due to the bad weather the milk tanker can’t get to the farm so we are going to have to dispose of all the milk in the tank. It is a total waste so if anyone wants any free milk come up.”
The lack of stocks in some places have been a boost for some small businesses.
Cardiff independent bakery My Loaf in Llandaff North had customers queuing out the door.
Owner Jackie Pardy said it has been one of the busiest weekends since they had opened and customers even brought gifts to say thanks for opening.