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Ice warning as more snow expected Majority of Welsh schools closed
(1 day later)
Ice and snow will continue to cause treacherous driving conditions around Wales with temperatures remaining close to freezing or below. Over half of the 1,800 schools in Wales shut on Wednesday due to snow and ice.
A severe weather warning of icy roads across the country is in place until Wednesday afternoon. Thousands of pupils enjoyed a day off as motorists battled treacherous driving conditions and buses and trains struggled to run.
Emergency services say they are being stretched and have urged people to only call 999 if really necessary.
Some hospitals have cancelled non-urgent operations, court and council buildings were affected and refuse collections were also being hit.
Snow fell on large parts of Wales overnight and into Wednesday morning, with the worst affected areas in the south east. More icy weather is forecast overnight into Thursday.
Schools and colleges across the nation closed and Cardiff's UWIC announced that all exams scheduled to be held at its Cyncoed Campus on Thursday have been cancelled.
Cardiff Airport was closed until 1500 GMT on Wednesday while many rail services between south Wales and London Paddington were cancelled.
Bus operators said they were doing their best to keep services running but some routes were suspended or terminated early.
WEATHER ROUND UP
Derek Brockway, BBC Wales weather forecaster
North and west Wales were worst hit by snow on Tuesday but the snow spread further south overnight into the morning to affect the south and east of the country, and Powys.
Around a couple of inches (5cm) fell in Cardiff, with four to six inches (10-15cm) in other parts of south and east Wales, and reports of 12 inches (30cm) in the Brecon Beacons.
I think the worst of the heavy snow has moved away but with a few snow showers for south Wales on Wednesday afternoon. The north and west of the country is brightening up.
The main problem for the bulk of Wales on Wednesday night will be ice - we could see temperatures fall to minus 10C or possibly lower in some rural areas.
There could be more snow on Wednesday night and Thursday morning in north-west Wales, Ceredigion, Pembrokeshire and Carmarthenshire.
People travelling by public transport are urged to check their operators' website for information.
Over 900 schools in Wales shut on Wednesday along with some colleges.
Wrexham Maelor Hospital, Ysbyty Glan Clwyd, Bodelwyddan, and Ysbyty Gwynedd have cancelled all clinic appointments and all elective surgery due to the state of the roads around the hospital and because ambulances cannot guarantee they can bring patients to and from the site.
Urgent surgery and planned surgery for those already in hospital will go ahead.
Several roads were closed in the south Wales valleys, while motorists were urged to take care on the M4.
Some routes in the north, mid and west Wales are described as hazardous and only just passable.
Bus services were cancelled in some areas including the Stagecoach service in the Torfaen and Severnside Area.
First Cymru said some of its services in Swansea and west Wales had been hit.
Cardiff Bus is now operating with minor changes after earlier disruption.
Courts have been closed in the Gwent area.
The freezing weather is expected to continue for up to a fortnight causing grit shortages for some councils.The freezing weather is expected to continue for up to a fortnight causing grit shortages for some councils.
Snow has caused a problem for motorists across Wales
Further snow is expected in the Newport and the Monmouthshire areas.
The Welsh Ambulance Service in north Wales said the weather had created huge problems in attending emergencies.The Welsh Ambulance Service in north Wales said the weather had created huge problems in attending emergencies.
A spokesperson said: "We would ask the public not to call 999 unless it is a genuine emergency.A spokesperson said: "We would ask the public not to call 999 unless it is a genuine emergency.
"If you need advice, please call the NHS Direct Wales line on 0845 46 47. "If you need advice, please call the NHS Direct Wales line on 0845 4647.
Remaining treacherous
"Unfortunately, it is likely that patients waiting for a response to a genuine 999 emergency call will experience delays, however the ambulance service will make every effort to attend calls as soon as possible.""Unfortunately, it is likely that patients waiting for a response to a genuine 999 emergency call will experience delays, however the ambulance service will make every effort to attend calls as soon as possible."
Ysbyty Glan Clwyd in Rhyl has cancelled all clinic appointments and all elective surgery for Wednesday due to the state of the roads around the hospital and because ambulances cannot guarantee they can bring patients to and from the site. North Wales Police advised people not to travel unless it was absolutely essential with conditions on many minor roads remaining treacherous.
North Wales Police are continuing to advise people not to travel unless it is absolutely essential with conditions on many minor roads remaining treacherous.
First Great Western, which runs trains between south Wales and London, said it had put in place a severe weather warning timetable.First Great Western, which runs trains between south Wales and London, said it had put in place a severe weather warning timetable.
Services between Swansea and London Paddington, calling at Cardiff Central, will run in both directions but the Cardiff-Paddington service will not run.
Many schools will also be closed across the country on Wednesday.
School closures for Wednesday, 6 January
Denbighshire council has announced all school transport on Wednesday is cancelled due to the wintry weather.
Tuesday saw more than 300 schools in Wales shut due to the bad weather.
Two hundred pupils were stranded at their school in Denbighshire because snow caused gridlock in the town.
The school, Ysgol Glan Clwyd in St Asaph, closed at 1300 GMT but buses got stuck in traffic following the sudden snowfall.
By 1920 GMT most were able to leave by bus, and three remaining pupils were due to be picked up by their parents.
The assembly government said it would free up road salt from its reserves to help local authorities running low.The assembly government said it would free up road salt from its reserves to help local authorities running low.
The Welsh Local Government Association said some councils had only two to three days of gritting supplies left, while some councils warned they were on the verge of running out. It said councils were scheduled to receive more than 200 lorry loads of salt, which is 6,000 tons in total, between Tuesday and Thursday.
Deputy First Minister Ieuan Wyn Jones said the assembly government fully understood the pressures local authorities were under due to the severe weather. A spokesman said salt stocks were being monitored on an hourly basis.
In Flintshire, councillors warned of the dangers of people stealing salt and grit, after a spate of thefts from roadside bins.
Councillor Tony Sharps, executive member for environment, said: "Not only are they stealing the salt, but in some cases the bins have been taken as well. I can't understand their thinking because it affects the most vulnerable."