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Wales weather: 6,000 without power after more snow Wales weather: 6,000 without power after more snow
(about 1 hour later)
About 6,000 homes in north Wales are without power after another night of heavy snow, with repairs being hampered by the conditions and road closures.About 6,000 homes in north Wales are without power after another night of heavy snow, with repairs being hampered by the conditions and road closures.
Scottish Power said the majority of those affected were in Llangollen and the Dee Valley.Scottish Power said the majority of those affected were in Llangollen and the Dee Valley.
It said it managed to reconnect a number of properties on Friday which had lost power, only to receive a new batch of faults on Saturday.It said it managed to reconnect a number of properties on Friday which had lost power, only to receive a new batch of faults on Saturday.
The snow moved southwards overnight affecting Powys and the Gwent Valleys.The snow moved southwards overnight affecting Powys and the Gwent Valleys.
The snowfall has caused widespread disruption to roads and rail travel.The snowfall has caused widespread disruption to roads and rail travel.
Emergency services have said many roads are treacherous and people are being warned to travel only if necessary.Emergency services have said many roads are treacherous and people are being warned to travel only if necessary.
North Wales Police who were called out to help stranded motorists in some cases found themselves in difficulties coping with the conditions.North Wales Police who were called out to help stranded motorists in some cases found themselves in difficulties coping with the conditions.
A Scottish Power spokesman said a number of electricity poles were down, and some had been brought down by falling trees. A Scottish Power spokesman said a number of electricity poles had been brought down, some by falling trees.
A company spokesman said engineers were working to reconnect people in the Llangollen area, but were being hampered by the conditions and road closures. He said engineers were working to reconnect people in the Llangollen area, but were being hampered by the conditions and road closures.
About 600 customers - mainly in the Dee Valley - were left without power for a time on Friday.About 600 customers - mainly in the Dee Valley - were left without power for a time on Friday.
Meanwhile, hospital staff, paramedics and renal patients have been driven to north Wales hospitals by British Red Cross volunteers using 4x4 vehicles.
Risk of ice
They have helped more than 70 people so far in the Wrexham and Flintshire areas, starting work at 05:15 GMT.
"It's great to know that our 4x4 capability can be of such vital use to medical staff in getting them through these tough weather conditions to patients, many of whom are seriously ill," said David Hallows, from the Red Cross.
"I've never seen snow like it. It's a metre thick in places and it's not drifting."
Forecasters say the weather should turn much colder, bringing the risk of ice.Forecasters say the weather should turn much colder, bringing the risk of ice.
BBC Wales weather presenter Sue Charles said: "We've had some very disruptive weather over the last 24 hours.BBC Wales weather presenter Sue Charles said: "We've had some very disruptive weather over the last 24 hours.
"There has been fresh snowfall across north east Wales overnight, and that band slipped south eastwards into Powys and the Valleys."There has been fresh snowfall across north east Wales overnight, and that band slipped south eastwards into Powys and the Valleys.
"The Met Office has downgraded its warning for north east Wales to yellow."The Met Office has downgraded its warning for north east Wales to yellow.
"The snow will gradually ease through the day, but with 10-20 cm of lying snow at lower levels - the heaviest in Wrexham and Flintshire - mixed with some very strong winds - drifting likely - and still causing disruption."The snow will gradually ease through the day, but with 10-20 cm of lying snow at lower levels - the heaviest in Wrexham and Flintshire - mixed with some very strong winds - drifting likely - and still causing disruption.
"Turning much colder overnight, a widespread frost is likely and ice could also cause a few problems.""Turning much colder overnight, a widespread frost is likely and ice could also cause a few problems."
Snow flurriesSnow flurries
Ms Charles said it would be drier on Sunday with just a few snow flurries possible in the east, but it would be much colder with highs of between 1 and 3C.Ms Charles said it would be drier on Sunday with just a few snow flurries possible in the east, but it would be much colder with highs of between 1 and 3C.
It will stay cold next week, she added, but largely dry and temperatures will begin to return to normal over the Easter weekend.It will stay cold next week, she added, but largely dry and temperatures will begin to return to normal over the Easter weekend.
On the roads, Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service said there had been a few traffic collisions on Friday night and early on Saturday.On the roads, Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service said there had been a few traffic collisions on Friday night and early on Saturday.
The worse incident saw a person taken to hospital after a two-vehicle crash on the A458 between Welshpool and Llanfair Caereinion, Powys, at about 01:20 GMT.The worse incident saw a person taken to hospital after a two-vehicle crash on the A458 between Welshpool and Llanfair Caereinion, Powys, at about 01:20 GMT.
In Gwynedd, a number of roads are closed due to the snow.In Gwynedd, a number of roads are closed due to the snow.
They include the A4212 Trawsfynydd to Bala, the B4391 Lon y Berwyn at Llandderfel, Lon y Mignant, Blaenau Ffestiniog, to the A4212, the A5 Bethesda to Llyn Ogwen and the A4086 Nant Peris to Pen-y-Pas.They include the A4212 Trawsfynydd to Bala, the B4391 Lon y Berwyn at Llandderfel, Lon y Mignant, Blaenau Ffestiniog, to the A4212, the A5 Bethesda to Llyn Ogwen and the A4086 Nant Peris to Pen-y-Pas.
Gwent Police said there had been a few road collisions on Saturday but none were serious. Monmouthshire appeared to be the county worse hit by snow, it said.Gwent Police said there had been a few road collisions on Saturday but none were serious. Monmouthshire appeared to be the county worse hit by snow, it said.
The heavy snow has also disrupted train services in north Wales, says National Rail Inquiries.The heavy snow has also disrupted train services in north Wales, says National Rail Inquiries.
A tree is blocking the line at Chirk which has cancelled services between Wrexham and Shrewsbury until further notice. Railway staff are on their way to the scene to start removing the tree. A tree blocking the line at Chirk has cancelled services between Wrexham and Shrewsbury until further notice. Railway staff are on their way to the scene to start removing the tree.
Earlier, several trees fell on the line between Wrexham Central and Bidston. The line has been cleared and services resumed at 11:32 GMT.Earlier, several trees fell on the line between Wrexham Central and Bidston. The line has been cleared and services resumed at 11:32 GMT.
'Hampered''Hampered'
Flintshire council said its street scene teams had been working around the clock since Thursday evening with 13 gritters and 36 agricultural ploughs treating and clearing routes.Flintshire council said its street scene teams had been working around the clock since Thursday evening with 13 gritters and 36 agricultural ploughs treating and clearing routes.
Priority routes are passable with care, but conditions remain difficult. Fallen trees have also caused additional problems on some roads.Priority routes are passable with care, but conditions remain difficult. Fallen trees have also caused additional problems on some roads.
The authority said there would be no waste collections of any type on Saturday, but it has asked residents to leave their black bins out because collections could resume on Monday.The authority said there would be no waste collections of any type on Saturday, but it has asked residents to leave their black bins out because collections could resume on Monday.
Properties that did not receive a recycling collection on Friday or Saturday are being told that collections will now take pace next Friday or Saturday.Properties that did not receive a recycling collection on Friday or Saturday are being told that collections will now take pace next Friday or Saturday.
Trade waste collections will resume on Monday and Tuesday.Trade waste collections will resume on Monday and Tuesday.
Denbighshire council is urging people in the south of the county only to travel if absolutely necessary.Denbighshire council is urging people in the south of the county only to travel if absolutely necessary.
The A525 to Llandegla remains open, as does the A494 to Corwen and main A and B roads to the north of Ruthin.The A525 to Llandegla remains open, as does the A494 to Corwen and main A and B roads to the north of Ruthin.
However, many of the roads in the south are closed due to the severe wintry weather.However, many of the roads in the south are closed due to the severe wintry weather.
Road crashesRoad crashes
"Teams of council staff have been working around the clock, working in atrocious conditions to try and keep the roads open in the south of the county, but the sheer amount of snow that has fallen, coupled with snow drifts, have hampered those efforts," said a council spokesperson."Teams of council staff have been working around the clock, working in atrocious conditions to try and keep the roads open in the south of the county, but the sheer amount of snow that has fallen, coupled with snow drifts, have hampered those efforts," said a council spokesperson.
Over 200 schools closed on Friday, and there were several weather-related road crashes.Over 200 schools closed on Friday, and there were several weather-related road crashes.
The snowfall is also expected to be the heaviest for the time of year in north east Wales since 1979.The snowfall is also expected to be the heaviest for the time of year in north east Wales since 1979.
Two flood alerts were in place in areas around the rivers of north west Wales, from Abergwyngregyn to Aberdaron as well as on the River Erch at Abererch in Gwynedd.Two flood alerts were in place in areas around the rivers of north west Wales, from Abergwyngregyn to Aberdaron as well as on the River Erch at Abererch in Gwynedd.