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| Freeze hits schools, roads again | Freeze hits schools, roads again |
| (21 minutes later) | |
| Temperatures fell to -14C in some parts of Wales overnight bringing a second day of disruption for drivers and many parents. | Temperatures fell to -14C in some parts of Wales overnight bringing a second day of disruption for drivers and many parents. |
| Motorists face the hazardous driving conditions of ice upon snow as councils say their salts stock are running low. | Motorists face the hazardous driving conditions of ice upon snow as councils say their salts stock are running low. |
| And nearly 1,000 schools are to stay closed on Thursday. | And nearly 1,000 schools are to stay closed on Thursday. |
| But routine operations at three general hospitals in north Wales have resumed and Cardiff Airport says departure flights are running again, with delays. | But routine operations at three general hospitals in north Wales have resumed and Cardiff Airport says departure flights are running again, with delays. |
| The Met Office said the prolonged cold spell, with clear skies overnight, meant drivers face more treacherous conditions with widespread icy roads. | The Met Office said the prolonged cold spell, with clear skies overnight, meant drivers face more treacherous conditions with widespread icy roads. |
| Click here for school closures on Thursday 7 January | |
| Temperatures fell to -14C at Trawscoed in Ceredigion with most parts of the country experiencing freezing conditions and a severe weather warning remaining in place for the whole country. | Temperatures fell to -14C at Trawscoed in Ceredigion with most parts of the country experiencing freezing conditions and a severe weather warning remaining in place for the whole country. |
| The National Botanic Garden of Wales in Carmarthenshire also said they had recorded a temperature of -14C on Thursday morning. | The National Botanic Garden of Wales in Carmarthenshire also said they had recorded a temperature of -14C on Thursday morning. |
| BIG FREEZE | |
| Derek Brockway, BBC Wales weather forecaster | |
| Of course, cold snaps in winter are not unusual but this one is much longer than we're used to. | |
| In fact it's the worst in Britain for about 30 years. So what's caused it? | |
| Well basically the weather pattern is stuck in a rut. | |
| We've got high pressure to the north of Britain. It's what we call a blocking high. | |
| These can occur at any time of the year and can last for several weeks. | |
| They can bring us lovely, warm weather in April and May but, in winter, high pressure to the north of Britain means bitterly cold north-easterly winds. | |
| The jet stream at the moment is way to the south, so Spain is getting all the rain. | |
| More on Derek's weather blog | |
| The Met Office said widespread ice was expected to persist, especially on untreated roads and pavements. | The Met Office said widespread ice was expected to persist, especially on untreated roads and pavements. |
| Around 1,000 schools were closed again, including all schools in the Vale of Glamorgan, and many in Caerphilly, Cardiff, Denbighshire, Flintshire and Rhondda Cynon Taf. | Around 1,000 schools were closed again, including all schools in the Vale of Glamorgan, and many in Caerphilly, Cardiff, Denbighshire, Flintshire and Rhondda Cynon Taf. |
| Dyfed-Powys Police said at 07.30 GMT that heavy snow was still falling across the whole of Pembrokeshire, reaching as far as St Clears in Carmarthenshire. | Dyfed-Powys Police said at 07.30 GMT that heavy snow was still falling across the whole of Pembrokeshire, reaching as far as St Clears in Carmarthenshire. |
| The force said roads were poor in Pembrokeshire and Ceredigion, though they are passable with care. But people are being urged to stay indoors and only make essential journeys. | The force said roads were poor in Pembrokeshire and Ceredigion, though they are passable with care. But people are being urged to stay indoors and only make essential journeys. |
| The Federation of Small Businesses in Wales estimates the current cold spell is costing Wales around £25m in lost productivity each day. | The Federation of Small Businesses in Wales estimates the current cold spell is costing Wales around £25m in lost productivity each day. |
| Spokesman Simon Evans said some workers were struggling to get into work due to the state of the minor roads and problems with public transport. | Spokesman Simon Evans said some workers were struggling to get into work due to the state of the minor roads and problems with public transport. |
| "Add to that the fact people are having to stay at home to look after their child care demands," he added. | "Add to that the fact people are having to stay at home to look after their child care demands," he added. |
| Buses in Pembrokeshire, Carmarthenshire, Swansea, Neath, Bridgend, Maesteg and Cardiff are running but are mostly keeping to the main roads and are not venturing on to side streets. | Buses in Pembrokeshire, Carmarthenshire, Swansea, Neath, Bridgend, Maesteg and Cardiff are running but are mostly keeping to the main roads and are not venturing on to side streets. |
| People travelling by public transport are urged to check their operators' website for information. | People travelling by public transport are urged to check their operators' website for information. |
| The assembly government said it was giving extra supplies of gritting salt to some local authorities as many report their supplies are under pressures after days of round-the-clock salting to keep main routes open. | The assembly government said it was giving extra supplies of gritting salt to some local authorities as many report their supplies are under pressures after days of round-the-clock salting to keep main routes open. |
| Departures resumed Cardiff Airport after snow led to closure on Wednesday | |
| Deputy First Minister Ieuan Wyn Jones said the assembly government had been working with local authorities over the past 12 months to ensure a "significant increase" in salt stock levels over last year. | Deputy First Minister Ieuan Wyn Jones said the assembly government had been working with local authorities over the past 12 months to ensure a "significant increase" in salt stock levels over last year. |
| He said: "In addition to providing some local authorities with additional salt supplies, we are liaising with suppliers to assist in the prioritisation of deliveries to local authorities." | He said: "In addition to providing some local authorities with additional salt supplies, we are liaising with suppliers to assist in the prioritisation of deliveries to local authorities." |
| North Wales Police is reminding motorists to take precautions when driving on icy or snow covered roads. | North Wales Police is reminding motorists to take precautions when driving on icy or snow covered roads. |
| Traffic Wales is warning that a number of mountain and rural roads remain closed or have difficult driving conditions due to snow. | Traffic Wales is warning that a number of mountain and rural roads remain closed or have difficult driving conditions due to snow. |
| Routine out-patient appointments at Prince Charles Hospital in Merthyr Tydfil on Thursday have been cancelled. | Routine out-patient appointments at Prince Charles Hospital in Merthyr Tydfil on Thursday have been cancelled. |
| However, routine operations and outpatient clinics at Ysbyty Gwynedd, Wrexham Maelor Hospital and Ysbyty Glan Clwyd are returning after cancellations on Wednesday. | However, routine operations and outpatient clinics at Ysbyty Gwynedd, Wrexham Maelor Hospital and Ysbyty Glan Clwyd are returning after cancellations on Wednesday. |
| Saturday's National Hunt card at the Ffos Las horse racing course in Carmarthenshire has been abandoned due to frost and snow. | Saturday's National Hunt card at the Ffos Las horse racing course in Carmarthenshire has been abandoned due to frost and snow. |
| The Pembrokeshire tourist attraction Folly Farm said it would be closed on Saturday and Sunday due to the adverse weather conditions. | |
| In Carmarthen, the fatstock market is also cancelled. It is scheduled to take place on Friday, to be included with the monthly cattle and pig sale. | In Carmarthen, the fatstock market is also cancelled. It is scheduled to take place on Friday, to be included with the monthly cattle and pig sale. |
| Cardiff's UWIC has said that all exams scheduled to be held at its Cyncoed Campus on Thursday have been cancelled. | Cardiff's UWIC has said that all exams scheduled to be held at its Cyncoed Campus on Thursday have been cancelled. |