Wrexham.com > News

Posted: Fri 2nd Mar 2018

Friday snow & ice – 46 Wrexham schools affected as we escape the worst weather

Wrexham.com for people living in or visiting the Wrexham area
This article is old - Published: Friday, Mar 2nd, 2018

Welcome to our ongoing updates of the snow and ice this morning…

1:22pm And definitely the final update, this warning from North Wales Police for anyone heading up Llandegla.

1:15pm One final, final one… great video to wrap things up with!

1pm Our final update on this page, and hopefully no need for more later! There is a yellow warning for snow and ice until 9pm, with some forecasts showing more snow from around 4pm however others say we have a clear night ahead so it could be a case of wait and see.

Below has the predicted snowfall depth via the usually reliable wxcharts.eu through until Monday from now.

12:52pm A video message from Gary Doherty, Betsi Cadwaladr Health Board Chief Executive, thanks staff & volunteers who have helped ‘keep the show on the road’.

12:44pm We are doing a final look at the updates around and various forecasts – but as we do that, the First Minister has commented on the efforts today from the emergency services across Wales:

12:35pm Not that you would have thought it was needed in the icy morning, but there was a speed calming measure taking place by Chirk this morning

12:25pm Lots of praise about for the gritting, and it is worth noting a few people have contrasted the decent local effort to other authorities over the last few days.

12:20pm Back in from a very chilly trip around town – main roads absolutely fine aside from some overly enthuastic drivers – but side roads slippy as usual. Town centre itself clear, but then some pavements further out still ice / snow / slush.

Midday – Arriva Buses have just released their latest update, with some improvements to services:

21,21A Not serving Top Road and Heol Hyfryd
41 Not serving Caia Road, Bernard Road
Services 1,3,4,5,7,8,11,11A,12,12A,14,26,27,32,33,35 operating normal routes, may be subject to delays.

11:52am North Wales Police Deputy Chief Constable Gareth Pritchard has posted pictures of the command centre showing the collaborative effort overnight and into this morning: “This allows all agencies to prioritise the calls from the public & support each other to ensure we get the right resource to each scene. We have met in co-ordinating meetings since Monday to plan our approach.”

11:40am Images of the snowfall from Llandegla – if you missed the video we retweeted of the snow last night it is worth a look here.

11:33am A Wales Air Ambulance has landed off Ruthin Road by the RAFA club.

11:28am Wrexham Council’s website is back up – sort of – if you hit reload a few times it seems to stick!

11:12am We have just been tweeted this cracker of dog walking last night…!

11am Time to look at the radar and various forecasts – it looks like we are missing the snow again 👍 Met Office has us down for light snow on and off through day. Wrexham town currently a sweltering -0.3C !

10:50am Marford was open, and a science lesson taking advantage of the conditions!

10:40am Town centre is fine and shops open if anything needs to do some shopping!

10:30am Arriva Buses have given a further update:
11, 11A – not serving the Awdy and terminus at Minera
21, 21A – not serving Top Road and Heol Hyfryd
26, 27 – not serving Leeswood
41 – not serving Caia Road and Bernard Road
Services 1, 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 12A, 14, 32, 33, 35 operating normal routes, but may be subject to delays

10:28am North Wales Police, like most emergency services this morning, are very busy. It seems the idiots out there are busy too, police said: “We’ve taken a 999 call earlier. Why? Woman wanted to get her O2 phone reconnected…we are very busy today and don’t need time-wasting calls.”

10:25am We thought we would check the schools updates but could not get the Council’s site to load. It is up and down at the moment and chugging, with issue confirmed. Prompt use of back up communication channels, so anything urgent will still get through!

10:10am Just out and about, this is a vid we have just taken from Pandy bridge.

9:55am HM Courts & Tribunals Service have said Wrexham’s Law Courts are open today – one of 8 other sites in Wales that are open, the rest closed due to the weather.

9:44am NEWSAR have posted this update and picture, as they have and are assisting emergency services. Usual reminder NEWSAR is a volunteer (unpaid) Search and Rescue organisation and runs off donations – more info here.

9:39am Locally the wind rather than snow seems to be the issue today, with -1C with windchill feeling more like -8C. 35mph gusts this morning recorded, with strong gusts predicted for the rest of the day.

9:35am Someone emailed pictures of footprints in Garden Village yesterday that looked quite cat like, however they insisted it was a ‘Beast’. Just had another email from them this morning, “Beast of Garden Village has made a night time visit again , same footprints…. same route..!!” so be careful on the ice, and any big cats roaming the north Wrexham tundra.

9:28am It must be very bad down in Cardiff as BBC Wales News are using the word / hashtag #SNOWMAGGEDDON for the first time ever!

9:22am North Wales Fire and Rescue Service have just posted an update with a reminder to drive carefully if you have to go out: “We’ve been responding to the community and supporting our partners during this severe weather in North Wales. Our operational staff are available at key locations to be able to mobilise to emergencies as quickly as possible. We’ve attended a number of road traffic collisions due to difficult driving conditions so if you have to venture out please drive carefully; check conditions first and allow plenty of time.”

9:11am The Cabinet Secretary for Health has tweeted to thank NHS staff

9:07am Using what we think is a relatively accurate measurement, it is -1.4C in town at the moment. Forecasts have us bouncing around -1C all day. We saw a bloke in shorts in Stansty when it was -5C this week, so no idea what he will be wearing today…!

9:03am Picture from Penycae with some textbook panic buying snow-banter

9am Although it seems we have missed the worst of the overnight snow we are still under a yellow warning through the day. Luckily for us, but not them, the worst is to the west and north of us.

Officially that means: “Further snow showers or perhaps longer spells of snow are likely at times through Friday. There is an increasing chance that a further spell of more persistent snow may move north into parts of southern England, Wales and central England during the day. Icy stretches are likely on untreated surfaces. In addition, strong winds will lead to further drifting or blowing around of existing snow cover. Delays and cancellations to public transport are possible, as are delays to travel on roads; some stranding of vehicles and passengers could also occur. Some rural communities could become, or remain cut off. Interruptions to power supplies and mobile phone coverage are also possible.”

8:47am Update from Coedpoeth says the main road is fine with praise for the Council’s gritters, side roads still snowy/icy. Drifting snow up to a meter deep in Bwlchgwyn.

08:45am If you are looking to go on any routes in the south Wales area be aware Arriva Trains have just said: “Despite considerable effort by railway teams services in the South are cancelled until further notice.”

08:38am Kelly asks us to pass this on, “Can you say a huge thank you to the bin collectors who helped us get our car out of the snow this morning near the park. True gents !!”

8:30am Arriva Buses have just issue an update for Wrexham and Chester services:

3/4/4A – Terminating at the Stryt las, using Gutter Hill, not Fennant road and not servicing Bryn Offa;
11, 11A – Not serving the Adwy and the terminus at Minera
12, 14 – Terminating at The Plantation,
12A – Terminating at Pentre Broughton
21, 21A – Not serving Top Rad and Heol Hyfryd
26, 27 – Not Serving Leeswood
32, 33 Not serving the village in Llay
Service 41-not serving Cia Road and Bernard Road
All other services are as normal.

DB1 – Buses keeping to main roads due to snow drifts:
Services 1,1A,3,3A,4,4A,4B,X4,10,10A,12,15,15A,X2,11A,82,DB2,DB4 running normal route, but may be subject to delays.

8:27am Town has had a few extra dustings overnight, but it seems the extra wind on top has meant mini drifts have appeared against buildings. Main roads are clear and flowing fine. Very cold out still with grey skies so it does not feel like it is shifting any time soon!

8:22am To add to the school closure list below, St Mary’s Aided, Brymbo say they closed as: “We have made the difficult decision to close due to current weather, predicted forecast and staffing issues.”

8:20am Plas Madoc is open, yesterday we asked them how warm it was inside and they said 31C so it really is the place to be

8:15am More snow on the way? In a nutshell, yes. Current Met Office forecasts show that snowfall is set to hit the Wrexham area again at around 2pm.

Temperatures again staying around the -1C figure, however that ‘beast from the east’ wind that we’ve all felt the past few days will make it feel like a very cold -8C in some parts.

Any parts of Wrexham lower than -8C? Let us know by tweeting @wrexham or emailing us on [email protected]

8am Another school closure updated – St Mary’s Aided, Brymbo are also listed as closed bringing the total affected up to 46.

21 schools are still listed as being open at time of writing.

7:55am Updates last night from Arriva Trains Wales about reduced train service between Wrexham and Bidston. Further details this morning about alternative bus services running for passengers.

7:45am University student? Wrexham Glyndwr University have tweeted the following update about their Wrexham campus..

SNOW UPDATE: The Wrexham campus is open this morning. If you choose to travel please do take extra care allowing plenty of time for your journey. Will will post updates throughout the day as weather warnings are still in place for parts of n wales.

7:38am Last night several schools said they would be closed, with many more saying a decision would be made early this morning. Just 18 currently remaining open…!

At the time of writing there are 45 schools across Wrexham which are listed on the council website as
closed:

Ysgol Plas Coch CP, Wrecsam
Black Lane CP, Pentre Broughton
Tanyfron CP, Southsea
St Josephs Catholic & Anglican High School, Wrexham
Ysgol Penrhyn, New Broughton CP
Ysgol Morgan Llwyd, Wrecsam
Ysgol Bodhyfryd CP, Wrecsam
Gwersyllt Community Primary School
St Mary’s Catholic Primary, Wrexham
Madras Voluntary Aided, Penley
Eyton Voluntary Controlled
Ysgol Maes y Mynydd, Rhos
Brynteg CP
Ysgol Bro Alun, Gwersyllt
Ysgol I.D. Hooson CP, Rhos
Penygelli CP School, Coedpoeth
St Giles VC Church in Wales Primary
Ysgol Rhostyllen, Rhostyllen
St Mary’s Voluntary Aided, Overton on Dee
St Mary’s Church in Wales, Ruabon
St Paul’s Voluntary Aided Primary School, Isycoed
Rhosymedre Community Primary School
Acrefair CP School
Bronington Voluntary Aided
Ysgol Min y Ddol CP, Cefn Mawr
Minera Voluntary Aided School
Borderbrook School
Ysgol Bryn Tabor, Coedpoeth
Alexandra CP School, Wrexham
Ysgol Yr Hafod, Johnstown
Ysgol y Waun, Chirk
Ysgol Cefn Mawr, Cefn Mawr
St Christopher’s School, Wrexham
Holt CP
Pentre Voluntary Controlled, Chirk
Garth CP
Froncysyllte CP
Ysgol Rhiwabon High School, Ruabon
Ysgol y Grango, Rhos
Penycae Community Primary
Pontfadog CP
Bwlchgwyn CP
Ysgol Cynddelw CP, Glynceiriog
Llanarmon Dyffryn Ceiriog CP
Ysgol Maes y Llan CP, Ruabon

More information on school closures and updates can of course be found on the Wrexham Council website.

7:24am Statement through from lead member for environment and transport, Cllr David A Bithell this morning, who has said: “Our Teams have being working through the night on our priority Gritting routes and our main routes are generally clear. We are experiencing some drifting on higher Routes and Teams are currently working to address these concerns.

“Bin collections will be carried out today as per the normal Friday collection calendar with the exception of GREEN bins which will not be collected today

“We will be utilising crews from green bin collections to assist our Gritting teams and snow clearance. Please see the councils website for school closures.”

7:21am There was a range of forecasts overnight, with the bands of snow from ‘Storm Emma’ sweeping up from the south.

7am Morning! More snow across Wrexham and the country overnight, with the Met Office forecasting more throughout the day and into tomorrow.

Overnight we were sent this video from James Hoynes who took his drone out over Hope and Hope mountain yesterday – it will be interesting to see if much has changed this morning.



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