Up to 5cm could fall in some areas with people being warned to expect travel disruption
The Met Office has issued a warning for snow(Image: North Wales Live/Ian Cooper)
A snow alert for North Wales has been issued by the Met Office. The yellow alert comes into effect at 4pm tomorrow (Wednesday) and lasts until 6am Thursday, covering parts of Wrexham, Denbighshire, Conwy and Gwynedd. Forecasters have warned of potential travel disruption and power cuts.
A Met Office forecast said: “Whilst there is some uncertainty in the details, there is the potential for an area of rain and snow to affect parts of Wales and central England later on Wednesday and overnight into Thursday.”
Meteorologists expect the heaviest snowfall to be concentrated on higher ground, though lower levels are unlikely to escape entirely.
According to the forecast: “2-5 cm of snow could accumulate quite widely above 150-200 metres, with perhaps as much as 10-15 cm above 250-300 metres in mid and southeast Wales, as well as Herefordshire and Shropshire.” Ensure our latest news and sport headlines always appear at the top of your Google Search by making us a Preferred Source. Click here to activate or add us as Preferred Source in your Google search settings
A yellow snow alert has been issued for parts of North Wales(Image: Met Office)
The forecast added: “Some small accumulations of snow, typically less than 2cm, are possible to lower elevations, especially from later Wednesday evening into the early hours of Thursday morning.”
The situation may be further complicated by “strong east to northeasterly winds” which “will accompany the wet weather, which could exacerbate impacts in places”.
Forecasters are advising the public to take precautions. Guidance issued alongside the alert suggests that “snowy, wintry weather can cause delays and make driving conditions dangerous, so to keep yourself and others safe: plan your route, checking for delays and road closures, amending your travel plans if necessary.
“If driving, leave more time to prepare and check your car before setting off; make sure you have essentials packed in your car in the event of any delays (warm clothing, food, water, a blanket, a torch, ice scraper/de-icer, a warning triangle, high visibility vest and an in-car phone charger).” Sign up for the North Wales Live newsletter sent twice daily to your inbox
Beyond travel concerns, the Met Office is also highlighting the risk of power outages. The weather agency advised: “People cope better when they have prepared in advance for the risk of power cuts or being cut off from services and amenities due to the snow.
“It’s easy to do; consider gathering torches and batteries, a mobile phone power pack and other essential items.”
As the system moves across the UK, officials reminded the public to “be prepared for weather warnings to change quickly: when a weather warning is issued, the Met Office recommends staying up to date with the weather forecast in your area”. Sign up now for the latest news on the North Wales Live Whatsapp community