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| Grit shortage fears during snow | Grit shortage fears during snow |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Further heavy snow is expected to move from north to south across Wales bringing more traffic disruption, the Met Office says. | Further heavy snow is expected to move from north to south across Wales bringing more traffic disruption, the Met Office says. |
| A severe weather warning remains in place for each of Wales' 22 counties after sub-zero temperatures left roads icy on Tuesday morning. | A severe weather warning remains in place for each of Wales' 22 counties after sub-zero temperatures left roads icy on Tuesday morning. |
| More than 300 schools were closed due to the bad weather. | More than 300 schools were closed due to the bad weather. |
| The Welsh Local Government Association said some councils had only two to three days of gritting supplies left. | The Welsh Local Government Association said some councils had only two to three days of gritting supplies left. |
| Powys council warned that is was on the verge of running out of road salt. | Powys council warned that is was on the verge of running out of road salt. |
| Meanwhile, police advised people to travel only if "absolutely essential". | Meanwhile, police advised people to travel only if "absolutely essential". |
| The A55 in north Wales was described as treacherous and roads leading to Anglesey, Gwynedd, parts of Conwy, Denbighshire, North Flintshire and Mold proved impassable on Tuesday afternoon. | The A55 in north Wales was described as treacherous and roads leading to Anglesey, Gwynedd, parts of Conwy, Denbighshire, North Flintshire and Mold proved impassable on Tuesday afternoon. |
| The Met Office has updated its forecast with a flash warning of heavy snow on Tuesday afternoon for Conwy, Denbighshire, Flintshire, Gwynedd, Anglesey and Wrexham, giving up to a further 5cm (2in) in places. | The Met Office has updated its forecast with a flash warning of heavy snow on Tuesday afternoon for Conwy, Denbighshire, Flintshire, Gwynedd, Anglesey and Wrexham, giving up to a further 5cm (2in) in places. |
| An early warning of heavy snowfall in south east Wales has also been issued, advising that 5-10cm (2-4in) is expected widely, with locally 10-15cm (4-6in) in Newport and Monmouthshire. | An early warning of heavy snowfall in south east Wales has also been issued, advising that 5-10cm (2-4in) is expected widely, with locally 10-15cm (4-6in) in Newport and Monmouthshire. |
| Salting and gritting | Salting and gritting |
| There is a moderate risk of more than 25cm (10in) of snow in a few places. | There is a moderate risk of more than 25cm (10in) of snow in a few places. |
| The WLGA said councils were helping each other out with supplies of gritting and salt although the "unprecedented scale of continuous salting and gritting" meant that main routes had to be given priority. | The WLGA said councils were helping each other out with supplies of gritting and salt although the "unprecedented scale of continuous salting and gritting" meant that main routes had to be given priority. |
| Chief executive Steve Thomas said: "Despite some media reports, there are no substantial reserves of salt in any parts of Wales and councils are largely reliant on deliveries from the Salt Union plant at Winsford in Cheshire. | Chief executive Steve Thomas said: "Despite some media reports, there are no substantial reserves of salt in any parts of Wales and councils are largely reliant on deliveries from the Salt Union plant at Winsford in Cheshire. |
| "This plant is working at capacity but with the cold spell looking set to continue the reality is that there could be problems in matching supply with demand over the forthcoming period. | "This plant is working at capacity but with the cold spell looking set to continue the reality is that there could be problems in matching supply with demand over the forthcoming period. |
| The cold spell is now putting gritting supplies under pressure, say councils | |
| "The extended cold spell could mean that in many local authority areas the salting of secondary routes will need to be restricted to ensure that primary routes are kept open with the stock that is available. | "The extended cold spell could mean that in many local authority areas the salting of secondary routes will need to be restricted to ensure that primary routes are kept open with the stock that is available. |
| "At the same time, matching the capacity of hauliers and salt suppliers to continue to reach council depots to restock them is also dependent on weather conditions and logistics." | "At the same time, matching the capacity of hauliers and salt suppliers to continue to reach council depots to restock them is also dependent on weather conditions and logistics." |
| In Powys, the county council warned that its reserves of road salt were "critically low" and could run out if the severe weather continued. | In Powys, the county council warned that its reserves of road salt were "critically low" and could run out if the severe weather continued. |
| The council said it normally carried stocks of about 14,000 tonnes of salt spread throughout 11 depots. | The council said it normally carried stocks of about 14,000 tonnes of salt spread throughout 11 depots. |
| But a decision was taken in November to increase this and depots were stocked up in December. | |
| A spokesman said: "The long period of continually freezing conditions has meant that we have used almost 13,000 tonnes of salt on the roads during December. | A spokesman said: "The long period of continually freezing conditions has meant that we have used almost 13,000 tonnes of salt on the roads during December. |
| "This compares with an average over the last five years of around 5,000 tonnes for the same period." | "This compares with an average over the last five years of around 5,000 tonnes for the same period." |
| Meanwhile, in Neath Port Talbot, Cwmavon Road will close again from 1900 GMT until midnight to to allow additional concrete barriers to be put in place following a landslide on New Year's Eve. | Meanwhile, in Neath Port Talbot, Cwmavon Road will close again from 1900 GMT until midnight to to allow additional concrete barriers to be put in place following a landslide on New Year's Eve. |
| Visitors to Loggerheads Country Park in Denbighshire are being asked to park considerately during the bad weather. | Visitors to Loggerheads Country Park in Denbighshire are being asked to park considerately during the bad weather. |
| The advice comes after cars parked on the A494 between Ruthin and the country park caused traffic chaos for nearby residents. | The advice comes after cars parked on the A494 between Ruthin and the country park caused traffic chaos for nearby residents. |
| The racecourse at Bangor-on-Dee has announced a 1400 GMT inspection on Wednesday ahead of Friday's National Hunt fixture. | The racecourse at Bangor-on-Dee has announced a 1400 GMT inspection on Wednesday ahead of Friday's National Hunt fixture. |
| The cattle and livestock market at Newcastle Emlyn was called off on Tuesday due to the bad weather. | The cattle and livestock market at Newcastle Emlyn was called off on Tuesday due to the bad weather. |
| And the livestock market at Llanymddyfi on Tuesday evening has also been cancelled. | And the livestock market at Llanymddyfi on Tuesday evening has also been cancelled. |