This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/wales/7871088.stm
The article has changed 19 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Fresh snow warning shuts schools | Fresh snow warning shuts schools |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Nearly 250 schools are staying shut on Thursday, as Wales braces itself for another day of snow storms. | |
| Forecasters predict that as much as 5 - 10 cm (2 - 4in) could fall in the south Wales valleys and through mid Wales. | Forecasters predict that as much as 5 - 10 cm (2 - 4in) could fall in the south Wales valleys and through mid Wales. |
| Powys council has taken the step of closing all its 120 schools, while more than 50 are shut in the Caerphilly area. | |
| The latest closures come as some councils warn they are running short of salt to grit roads. | The latest closures come as some councils warn they are running short of salt to grit roads. |
| In Cardiff and Barry, several bus routes operated by Cardiff Bus have been suspended due to the adverse weather conditions. Passengers are advised to check the Cardiff Bus website. | |
| Ceredigion and Rhondda Cynon Taf councils say their supplies of road salt are falling fast. | Ceredigion and Rhondda Cynon Taf councils say their supplies of road salt are falling fast. |
| Ceredigion council's highways' director said the local authority had only four or five days supplies of road salt, and just two days' if there was heavy snow. | Ceredigion council's highways' director said the local authority had only four or five days supplies of road salt, and just two days' if there was heavy snow. |
| The council said had it decided to keep its salt stocks for use on primary and trunk routes and to react when needed on secondary routes after a supplier said it had no more available. | The council said had it decided to keep its salt stocks for use on primary and trunk routes and to react when needed on secondary routes after a supplier said it had no more available. |
| Rhondda Cynon Taf council said it had a "major concern" that its order for 600 tonnes of salt, plus orders by other local authorities, had been blocked for the supplies to be used on motorways and major trunk roads. | Rhondda Cynon Taf council said it had a "major concern" that its order for 600 tonnes of salt, plus orders by other local authorities, had been blocked for the supplies to be used on motorways and major trunk roads. |
| In response, a Welsh Assembly Government spokesperson said it had delivered 100 tonnes of salt to each of seven local authorities in south and mid Wales. | In response, a Welsh Assembly Government spokesperson said it had delivered 100 tonnes of salt to each of seven local authorities in south and mid Wales. |
| She said: "We are in constant communication with local authorities to see what needs to be done to keep stocks up to essential levels." | She said: "We are in constant communication with local authorities to see what needs to be done to keep stocks up to essential levels." |
| Rhondda Cynon Taf has also cancelled all home-to-school transport in the borough on Thursday, as it did on Wednesday, but said the decision on whether a school closed rested with the head teacher. | Rhondda Cynon Taf has also cancelled all home-to-school transport in the borough on Thursday, as it did on Wednesday, but said the decision on whether a school closed rested with the head teacher. |
| The local authority closed it three mountain roads - Bwlch, Rhigos and Maerdy - from 2200 GMT on Wednesday. | The local authority closed it three mountain roads - Bwlch, Rhigos and Maerdy - from 2200 GMT on Wednesday. |
| Powys council said it took the decision to close all its schools after taking weather advice, and to "remove any uncertainty". | Powys council said it took the decision to close all its schools after taking weather advice, and to "remove any uncertainty". |
| Council spokesman Douglas Wilson added: "Decisions such as these are not taken lightly." | Council spokesman Douglas Wilson added: "Decisions such as these are not taken lightly." |
| The council said schools were expected to re-open on Friday but that decision would be made on Thursday afternoon. | The council said schools were expected to re-open on Friday but that decision would be made on Thursday afternoon. |
| Warning | Warning |
| An early weather warning was issued by The Met Office forecasting more sleet and snow for south-east Wales and Powys from the early hours of Thursday. | An early weather warning was issued by The Met Office forecasting more sleet and snow for south-east Wales and Powys from the early hours of Thursday. |
| There could be about 2 - 5cm (0.8 - 2.5in) in general, with 5 - 10 cm (2 - 4in) likely in places and 20 - 30 cm (8 - 12in) possible over higher ground with bigger drifts. | There could be about 2 - 5cm (0.8 - 2.5in) in general, with 5 - 10 cm (2 - 4in) likely in places and 20 - 30 cm (8 - 12in) possible over higher ground with bigger drifts. |
| Motorists have been warned to take care because of the continuing icy conditions, with some rural roads remaining impassable following this week's earlier snowfall. | Motorists have been warned to take care because of the continuing icy conditions, with some rural roads remaining impassable following this week's earlier snowfall. |
| Met Office forecaster Derek Brockway advised any rugby fans planning to travel to Scotland for Wales' opening Six Nations game on Sunday to allow extra time for the journey. | Met Office forecaster Derek Brockway advised any rugby fans planning to travel to Scotland for Wales' opening Six Nations game on Sunday to allow extra time for the journey. |
| He said it should be dry and bright for the match at Murrayfield on Sunday afternoon, but there was a risk of snow there by Sunday evening. | He said it should be dry and bright for the match at Murrayfield on Sunday afternoon, but there was a risk of snow there by Sunday evening. |