ICE & SNOW WARNING FOR WALES
With Wales braced for plunging temperatures and the prospect of snow over the weekend, Rob Harries looks back at a cold snap seven years ago which caused widespread disruption and dangerous conditions for weeks...
WEATHER warnings for ice and snow have been issued for Wales – but not before the third named storm of the seasons sweeps through the UK.
Up to 10cm of snow could fall over higher ground, but even lower levels and coastal areas could be affected by the cold snap.
The Met Office has sounded the yellow warning for cold weather over the weekend, which will be ushered in after Storm Caroline passes the country.
The warning said: “Snow showers are expected to become increasingly frequent over northern Scotland late on Thursday and are expected across many other parts of Scotland, Northern Ireland, Wales and western England on Friday.
“Between 2-5 cm of snow is likely for some, with 10-20 cm possible over high ground, mainly Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales.
“Icy surfaces are also likely to be an additional hazard, especially overnight. Strong northwest winds may cause drifting of the snow in places with blizzard conditions possible at times across northern Scotland. The heaviest and most frequent of the snow showers will progressively.”
The warning is in place between midnight on Friday and 6pm on Saturday.
A weather warning was also issued yesterday for Storm Caroline that is set to batter parts of Scotland, but a spokeswoman for the Met Office said that, while there was no warning in place for Wales, it would feel blustery with winds of up to 55mph.
Then, colder Arctic winds from the north will move in bringing snows to parts of the country on Friday.
Temperatures are set to plummet thanks to the Arctic freeze blown over from Russia and Siberia, bringing sleet, downpours and snowfall to most parts of the UK.
Nicola Maxey, from the Met Office, said: “It will feel blustery at times in Wales on Wednesday night into Thursday and Friday, with strong winds in the north.
“Behind the low pressure system there are cold Arctic winds that will bring a major drop in temperatures. The wind chill will make it fell a lot colder and showers could fall as snow, even to lower levels.
“They will be heavier on higher ground, but snow could fall anywhere in Wales. It will be the same on Saturday.”
Temperatures in Bangor, Cardiff and Swansea will be around 5°C on Friday, but the wind will make it feel like -1°C.
TV weather presenter Derek Brockway said there could be between 5cm to 10cm in parts of Wales – mainly on the hills and mountains.
Scotland will be hit by winds of up to 80mph thanks to Storm Caroline, as well as some very wet weather.
A Met Office statement said: “Storm Caroline is expected to bring a spell of very windy weather to northern Scotland on Thursday.
“Gusts of 60-70mph are expected quite widely, with gusts to 80mph possible near north-facing mainland coasts and across the isles.
“Road, rail, air and ferry services may be affected, with longer journey times and cancellations possible. Some short-term loss of power and other services is possible. It is likely that some coastal routes, sea fronts and coastal communities will be affected by spray and/or large waves.”
SCHOOLS and airports closed, the M4 was restricted to 30mph and rubbish piled up on pavements because it couldn’t be collected.
The last time Wales went through a “big freeze” was 2010. It started on November 28, as snow blanketed large parts of the country.
On that night, Lysdinam, near Llandrindod Wells, dipped to -17.3°C, colder than Greenland.
It was the start of freezing weather that lasted through December.
Cardiff Council used up to 700 tons of grit (more than 20% of its salt stock) in a week and resorted to putting recycling waste into landfill to clear a backlog.
Cardiff Bus kept services operational only on main roads and the M4 was restricted to a speed limit of 30mph between junction 24 at Coldra and junction 49 in Pont Abraham – a distance of almost 65 miles.
One man from Ceredigion didn’t receive his post for more than a month. He said his small farm in Llanddewi Brefi, near Lampeter, was a “100% whiteout”.
People drove down slushy roads or walked gingerly along icy pavements to get to work.
The weather led to travel chaos up and down the country, with the AA reporting that it dealt with around 12,000 breakdowns in half a day. Michael Dukes, of MeteoGroup, compared parts of Wales with Scandinavia, calling the weather “ridiculous”.
Gavin Hill-Smith, of the AA, said at the time: “There are horrendous driving conditions in some parts, with driving, drifting snow and bad ice making for possibly the worst driving conditions imaginable, even for experienced drivers.
“The weather will undoubtedly cause disruption for people heading off for an early Christmas break, if they live in one of the affected areas.”
Flights were grounded and roads were brought to a standstill. It wasn’t all bad news, however, as children across the country enjoyed time off school and parks were turned into postcard-perfect scenes.
Sales on the high streets were also affected as the conditions made people think twice about venturing out. Families were left without heating in some parts of the country due to rocketing oil prices and a restriction in fuel delivery, leading the UK government to concede that the situation could become “very serious”.
It wasn’t just Wales. Northern Scotland saw as much as eight inches of snowfall, while parts of Yorkshire had to endure more than two feet of snow over a matter of days.
Overall, 2010 saw the UK’s coldest December since the Met Office began compiling records 100 years earlier.
Is there a chance of a repeat this year?
While the latest weather warning suggests Friday and Saturday could see plenty of snow and ice across Wales, there is a likelihood of a colder winter than previous ones thanks to the effect of La Nina. The Pacific Ocean weather phenomenon increases the chances of colder weather in Britain at winter. But that does not necessarily mean a winter of snow drifts and hard frosts, simply that there is more chance of chilly weather this winter than the last few mild ones.