Snow and heavy freezing rain caused significant travel disruptions in South Wales, affecting many residents and public transport services this weekend
South Wales: This weekend, a mix of snow and heavy rain really threw a wrench in travel plans. It all started Saturday night and continued into Sunday, leaving Gwent in a bit of a mess.
Many folks woke up to a winter wonderland, with snow covering homes and streets. It was a sight to see, but not so great for getting around. Gritters were out early trying to clear the main roads, but conditions were still pretty dicey.
Traffic Wales South reported that while some routes were clear by 9 am, they warned everyone to stay off the roads unless absolutely necessary. It was still hazardous out there.
Public transport took a hit too. In places like Monmouth and Chepstow, Newport Bus had to cancel several services, and others had to change their routes to avoid the worst of the snow.
Stagecoach Wales paused many of their services in Cwmbran until the roads were checked again around 10 am. Thankfully, some of the snow had melted by then, allowing them to resume operations.
People were snapping photos of the snowy scenes early Sunday, but by noon, the snow was turning to slush as the rain moved in. It was a quick change from winter wonderland to a soggy mess.
The Met Office had issued an amber warning for snow and ice, and Gwent Police had to close several roads due to dangerous conditions. It was a bit chaotic out there.
As the rain continued, the yellow weather warning was in effect, predicting freezing rain followed by heavy rain, which could lead to flooding in some areas.
Despite the chaos, families were making the best of it. Kids were out sledging and building snowmen, while pets enjoyed the snow too. It was a mixed bag of fun and frustration.
Interestingly, temperatures were still a bit warmer than usual for January, hovering around nine degrees during the day, but dropping to minus two overnight.
