Monday : Wrexham Snow Updates ( & School Closure Info)

Welcome to our coverage of the snowfall around the Wrexham area – Day Four!

Live Town Centre SnowCam: click here for bigger version

Zoomed SnowCam: (Updates 5mins!) click here for bigger version

Get Involved: Email us info & pictures to [email protected], or use this webform or if you are on twitter get in touch via @wrexham or visit our Facebook page.

6pm With road and transport networks holding up with no reported issues, and no snow on the radar we are drawing our live updates to a close! Thanks to all who took part – hopefully it was useful!

5:30pm Arriva Buses say all their Wrexham services operating normally, but may be subject to delays.

4:50pm Odd report by James on twitter saying “Croesnewydd road near driving test centre, snowman fallen into the road partly blocking road toward Maelor”.

4:30pm “Just been through Nant Y Garth /Llandegla… Route 100% clear and looking stunning in the sunset!”

3:50pm Temperatures around 4C and the sun is out! Driving around this is however creating issues on some roads of some light melt water so take it easy out there! Roads are clear and no more snow on the radar!

3:40pm We are delighted to say that there are pictures of the famous Brynteg BathSledge have been found on Facebook – this one by Mark Roberts! Last night we wrote how we have heard from one of the now famous Brynteg / Moss Valley BathSledgers! The anonymous sledger told us they picked Moss valley opposite the golf course on the banks as their chosen run. We are also told its a two man bob sled, not a sledge!

“Some lad said he brought it from his house so fancied a two man bob sled once the path was clear. Went back next day and the bath had gone! Probably his mum asked for it back when she realised it was missing when she went to run it!”

He has not yet decided if he is looking to enter the Sochi Winter Olympics in Russia.

3:25pm A worrying picture has been sent of sledges on Acton Park lake by ‘Taffy’, hopefully they were never manned!

3:21pm A twitcher tweeted us saying ‘half dozen “Waxwings” seen on Pant Lane Gresford’ this afternoon. Waxwings of course, are birds!

3pm  Richard Jones has tweeted us saying “just seen a driving instructor doing a handbrake turn on Gatewen village whilst picking up a learner. Black Citroen.”

1:45 Snow fall has now stopped and main routes appear clear around town. Conditions on main roads appear much like a rainy day, however venturing to drives, car parks or minor roads then the road can become a sheet of ice.

12:45 Quite a few schools in Flintshire closing as the snowfall passes north – thankfully its missed us. After this snowfall things ought to clear up. Still the odd flurry around town, however mainly from trees in the wind when we went out and about! We are also looking for

12:30 Marcin has been back in touch earlier this morning, sending us this classic snow picture of ruler-in-snow in Penycae!

12:20 Karen has been in touch telling us that Bersham is quite bad, “People are struggling to get up Foxwood drive in there cars and they finding it difficult to walk. Why doesn’t the council grit this road? This needs addressing.”

12:10 Gem has sent us this picture of the JCB that is out and about helping clear roads! She says “He’s clearing our tiny road in Bwlchgwyn – looks like he keeps going further along the lane and bringing back scoopfuls of Snow. What a legend.” There has been praise for people helping out communities today, and no doubt there are multiple ‘Mr Plough’s out there :

11:26 There is a big shiny thing in the sky – we recall something like this called ‘The Sun’ ! Hopefully with that combined with temperatures over zero a thaw could take place…

11:23 Several cars either only had a very small window wiped limiting visibility others such as this car had inches of snow on top which meant piles of snow were dropped when braking! Please try and make your cars safe before heading out!

11:19 Heading out of Wrexham up the bypass towards Chester shows a marked difference in snow levels! This is the visiblity heading back to the Land Of The Gods:

11:10 We are back from a drive around town and up and down the bypass – most routes are clear however side roads are still either icy or sludgy.

10:40 Lentes has emailed us this picture saying “Just spotted a tractor with a plough at Pont Yr Afon in Penycae! Good job!”

10:30 Steve tells us “Sontley Road clear until junction with Percy Road. Skating rink up past Squire Yorke”.

10:25 Some complaints coming in regarding schools and access – for example “St Giles have cleared a two foot wide path across the yard for access but left an icy slope frm path to school gate”

10:06 Arriva have confirmed they are running a full service aside from to / from Leeswood at the moment due to road conditions.

09:55 Good news! The overnight snow band is due to pass through fully very shortly. The north of England has been hit hard, and we have been getting the tail end of the latest snowfall. This band was due to hang around until midday however higher winds have pushed it west sooner.

09:39 Glyndwr Uni post their first update of the morning saying “Our Wrexham campus is open today. We are monitoring the weather closely and will let you know if the situation changes.”

09:38 Deborah tells us “Wrexham to Coedpoeth bus running but not going to Minera also not going round adwy.main road only,southsea hill ok too”

09:30 Eifiont says “Snow still falling in Tanyfron. But nice to see most of the roads clear and the children back at school”. Anon in Acton says “Snowing here again, sticking on all the trees.” Gavin has been on the roads and tweeted saying he just drove from Wrexham to Llandudno Junction a483 & a55 “all fine all clear”.

09:25 Siobhan sent us this picture from Borras Park saying the snow today is worse than Friday:

09:20  David in Pentre Broughton reporting heavier snow is starting to fall. Chester is apparently ‘cold but clear’ with another dusting of snow earlier today, but nothing like we have seen in Wrexham.

09:15 We have had reports of the JCB snow elf around Wrexham, however with JCB’s looking alot like other JCB’s we are unsure they are the same person!

09:10 We realise a few pictures do not tell the full story, but we are looking at other areas to see how they have handled the snow. Preston has around 100 school closures and on  the face of it has had a fair bit less snow than we have!

09:07 Sian poses a question – “how is it that all the schools in Wrexham closed on Friday when there was hardly any snow but today are open?”

09:05 Nicky has taken this picture of a very cold Caia Park this morning:

08:59 Ruabon Road and the B&Q Roundabout snarling up, usual traffic issues but with the added fun of some ice and snow!

08:56 Shaun has emailed us to say “I’d just like to thank either the council or a local vigilante who has been around some of Coedpoeth’s side streets with a JCB clearing the snow. Massive help.”

08:53 Dale has sent this picture from this morning of the clear link road to the Industrial Estate, with Geraint Edge adding just now “new road to industrial estate pretty clear apart from the outside lane has almost disappeared”:

08:45 We are pretty sure all the school opening/closing have now been covered, however as a few have been saying they will be monitoring the situation throughout the day – so any changes we will update you ASAP!

08:38 @jimmykranke sent us this photo of Moss Valley this morning, the site of the now infamous ‘bath sledge of brynteg’!

08:35 Lots of Council-love out there this morning, a contrast to last night when things looked pretty dire! Andy says “I think a huge round of applause is due to the council who have obviously been working their behinds off!”

08:30 Lauren has tweeted us, presumably from the train, saying “signalling problems between wrexham and chester….and they have no idea how long we’ll be stuck on the train…BRILLIANT”

08:27 Matthew Parker says  Bronington School is closed – he was informed via a call from the nursery. This has been confirmed via the Council now.

08:25 Sam Evans tells us an ambulance got stuck  in Tanyfron at 3am.

08:23 The latest snow radar image is below, with the band passing east to west quite quickly. It is possible that any snow will have cleared through by midday!

08:18 If you have been following our updates you will know ‘JB’ has been sending some cracking info and pictures from Garden Village. This is the latest image he has sent, showing clear roads! Credit to the council as of 1am the picture was very very different! JB says ‘Chester road clear, still a little sludgy in places, if you can make it onto the main routes around Wrexham I’m sure you’ll be fine. But with freezing temperatures, be aware of icy patches developing throughout the day‘

08:14 Dale has sent us this picture from the A483 bypass showing conditions out there – he says its ‘all clear’ !

08:11 Ysgol Clywedog is open today taking the number to a round 60 of those saying they are open. Froncysyllte is the only one fully closed, with Penycae, Dodds Lane and Ysgol y Waun having partial closures.

08:08 Johnstown Infant School have said they are opening today as normal.

08:06 Julia has been towards Chester and says ”Old’ road from Marford to Chester fine. Side roads bad but slow steady driving and they’re passable’

08:05 Ymlaen / Dodds Lane, Gwersyllt is added to the ‘partially closed’ list due to insufficient staff cover.

08:01 Wayne tweets us to say “My child goes to Castell Alun. I live in Treuddyn. Roads are horrendous up here. I’m not risking our lives and car to get there. I work for a Recovery company and the side roads are really bad. Very slippy underfoot and terrible to drive on.”

08:00 Froncysyllte CP is CLOSED. They say “The school is closed today. The hill leading to school is treacherous and the car park is unusable. In the interests of health and safety of staff and pupils we have made the difficult decision to close. We will do all we can to get roads gritted and passable so that we can open tomorrow.”

07:56 Simon tells us ‘side roads are passable with care, the main roads around Acton and Garden Village and the Town are clear. Arriva Trains are running’

07:55 Had a direct request to say Black Lane, Pentre Broughton are OPEN today. They are having issues updating via the council website.

07:54 Fifty six schools have now said they are open, Pentre in Chirk,  Park Community Primary School, Llay, The Rofft CP, Marford all being added to the ‘open’ list.

07:50 Sharon tells us ‘Llay is worse than on Friday, but not as bad as in 1963’. If Wrexham.com and the internet had existed in 1963 we would have had live updates to refer to ;-)

07:48 Yale College have gone a step further, not just saying they are open, but its is open as normal including evening classes later on.

07:46 A few schools are saying similar to ‘We are open at the moment are monitoring the weather during the day’.

07:44 Brynteg CP, Cefn Mawr CP, All Saints Gresford, Borras Park Infant School and St Mary’s in Wrexham are all open.

07:42 Second partial closure – Ysgol y Waun, Chirk . The Junior site is closed however the infant site is open.

07:40 Kerry Williams sends us this picture of the snow up in Mountain View saying ‘snowed in on mountain view estate not worth bumping the car’:

07:38 Borderbrook School , Bwlchgwyn and St Mary’s in Overton are all open. Again, only one partial closure so far today – Penycae.

07:35 A few have asked but there is no information out there on Glyndwr Uni as of now. The last updates were posted yesterday saying ‘hopeful that we will be able to open as normal tomorrow’ but point students to their inboxes and Moodle.

07:33 Laura Westwood has tweeted us to say “Chester Rd through Gresford is clear. Side roads very icy, cars skidding! Just travelled up A483 to Wrexham & it’s clear.”

07:30 45 schools have said they are open today so far, with Ysgol Min y Ddol CP, Cefn Mawr – Madras, Penley and the Early Years Centre, Wrexham all saying they are open.

07:27 Gwersyllt Primary School is open, and say they are monitoring the situation. Acton Park is also open. Rhosddu Primary School is also open. An interesting snippet on buses has been added: “Unicorn Travel have indicated that pick ups on College Hill in Tanyfron will not be possible due to road conditions. It is hoped that the combination of regular and effective gritting, and the ongoing flow of commuter traffic during the earlier part of the morning, will mean that all will be well for safe travel for all.”

07:23 Michael in Caia Park says hes just cleared 3 inches of snow from his car and reminds everyone to clear their cars properly!

07:22 Ysgol Sant Dunawd CP, Bangor on Dee – Rhosymedre Community Primary School and St Christopher’s School all open. Still only that one partial closure so far for Penycae.

07:20 Arriva Wales have said their Chester buses are all running normally, but Leeswood not reachable, so sticking to bottom road to mold.

07:19 Tom says “Side roads in Gresford look bad but Chester Rd by the plough is fine. Assume buses will be running normally from Wrexham to Chester.”

07:18 Penygelli CP School, Coedpoeth. Ysgol Bryn Tabor, Coedpoeth, Eyton , Holt CP all open today – Ysgol Maes y Mynydd, Rhos are open but asking for a 10am not 9am start.

07:14 Darland school has confirmed it is open.

07:13 To clarify Penycae are asking juniors to go to the infants – so is a ‘partial closure’.

07:12 Angharad saying “Snowed all day yesterday roads were closing in. Llandegla has so much snow. Main road appear clear but its getting 2them!” Raymond says he thinks Minera is worse than Friday, and Gareth says Hope has worse roads than Friday.

07:10 Open: Ysgol Cynddelw CP, Glynceiriog. St Paul’s Voluntary Aided Primary School, Isycoed. Maelor School, Penley. Ysgol y Grango, Rhos

07:06  First closure – Penycae Infants are still OPEN however the JUNIOR site is closed. This is due to them not being able to clear both sites however juniors are to go to the infants!

07:02 St Peters in Rossett is also open – so far not one school has said they are closing yet.

07:01 Acrefair CP , Ysgol Bryn Tabor, Coedpoeth, Ysgol Heulfan, Gwersyllt, Johnstown Junior School , Llanarmon Dyffryn Ceiriog CP, Rhostyllen CP and we are hearing Castell Alun are open.

7am Daniel Jones says “Can’t believe the amount of wrexham schools that are open today basing their decision on what conditions are like in wrexham and not the actual surrounding areas! I still have to dig my car out in Acrefair and attempt to get out of the non gritted estate which is not going to be fun!” Whereas Gary Bagnall says “Get to work the main roads fine”.

06:59 “traffic appears to be moving well on main road in Johnstown – nant parc roads are tricky” says Stevie.

06:58 St Mary’s Aided, Brymbo, Ysgol ID Hooson CP, Rhos and Rhostyllen CP open. St Mary’s saying ‘School is open – roads around Brymbo are clear, which is contradicting what the GHA coach company are saying!

06:57 Rhosnesni High is opening today.

06:56 St Josephs is open – and posts the same message as yesteday saying “Wrexham County Borough Council advises…..” the route taken by certain vehicles may vary from normal. In the interests of safety, you are advised to make sure that pupils are at their pick-up point at least 10 minutes earlier than usual.” MESSAGE RE BUS ROUTES: At present, George Edwards’ Coaches have advised that they are not planning to run in Gwynfryn and Bwlchgwyn, and so pupils need, where possible, to pick up their bus in Coedpoeth”

06:53 GHA Coaches providing good info, indicating that roads up Brymbo way are not great! “15/15A – services unable to serve any further than Pentre Broughton. May have to turn at Brynteg.”

06:52 Pontfadog and St Giles have just said they are opening today.

06:50 Emma Groom says ‘doesnt look like rhosddu rd has been gritted so take care’.

06:49 Tanyfron CP and Gwenfro Community Primary School are open.

06:46 Just checked other sites, Daily Post / Heart not updated since yesterday, Evening Leader nothing since Friday day time, and ‘North East’ BBC Wales has pictures and info from Cardiff.

06:45 Arriva Wales have updated their service information for this morning:
1 – normal route
3 / 4 no afoneitha
7 / 8 main roads
10 / 11 main road no adwy and terminating at 5 crosses.
12 / 13 normal to Pentre broughton.
14 no Tanyfron terminating at plantation.
21 normal diverted route.
26 operated as a 27 with no caergwrle station.
32 /33 normal till llay then main road no village

06:42 Rhosymedre Community Primary School, Ysgol Maes y Llan, Ysgol Rhiwabon and Hafod y Wern join the list of schools OPEN

06:41 7:00am Wrexham to Chester train cancelled due to signalling problems.

06:40 GHA Coaches are saying ‘The main roads around the Industrial Estate seem to be driveable.’ and All their services for local buses are running at the moment but may be operating via main roads if small roads are too icy.

06:37 Checking the radar there is a band of light snow that is going to pass over us from the east this morning. From our forecast last night “Temperatures are going as low as -3C overnight and for the 8-9am rush hour will still be around -1C presenting dangerous icy conditions. There is a possibility of fog adding to the problems in the morning.

It is likely there will be light snow on and off throughout the morning tomorrow, with it finally easing in the early afternoon. Temperatures however will not break freezing, and head lower into Monday evening with some predicting a possible -5C ! Looking ahead further its going to be a very very cold week!”

06:35 Victoria School and Ysgol Bodhyfryd have said they are open.

06:33 Yale College is OPEN to Staff and Students.

06:31 Liam Allmand has been on the bypass this morning and says “a483 wrexham to chester clear, even though snow in wrexham is bad, chester is just sleet”

06:30 Morning everyone! Welcome to our Live Updates for today – we will be covering what is going on for school openings (or closures), transport networks, snowfall and what the forecasts say. We will also be putting up your pictures so please get involved!

Last night many schools have said they would reopen this morning, however many will be doing final checks and decisions over the next hour or so – so we will update when we know. On Friday we were able to spread the word with the help from you to get information out quicker than via ‘traditional’ channels, so please share what information you have on schools, roads and what is affecting you by using the links above.

We have a feeling we will be having *alot* of coffee this morning…!

Previous pages can be found here: Friday, Saturday and from last night, Sunday , to see what this page will evolve into! We recommend looking at last night’s as we were updating into 1am.

Help Out: Email us info & pictures to [email protected], or use this webform or if you are on twitter get in touch via @wrexham or visit ourFacebook page.