The weather

North Wales braced for freezing temperatures

Temperatures in Hawarden were expected to go as low as -8

THE coldest place in Wales was braced for temperatures to plummet even lower today as the freezing weather continues its grip.
Hawarden in Flintshire was declared to have the the lowest temperature in the country on Wednesday night at -7.7°C and last night was predicted to be similarly icy.
Forecasters predicted this week’s cold snap would become even worse during the early hours of today, thanks to the dry wind blasting the UK from eastern Europe.
Over the last two days temperatures also dropped as low as -6°C in parts of Gwynedd and remained below freezing elsewhere in North Wales. The Met Office has now issued more severe weather warnings and is advising people to be prepared for extremely cold conditions.

The recent dry spell is expected to make way for snow and ice in many parts of the country over the weekend, as an Atlantic weather front moves in from the west.
Paul Gundersen, deputy chief forecaster at the Met Office, said: “As this front moves in from the west it will come up against cold air and we're likely to see a mixture of rain, sleet and snow. It’s a finely balanced situation, so there is some uncertainty about which areas will see the most significant snowfall. But at the moment the risk is highest in central and eastern areas of the UK, where we could see up to 5-10cm of snow. With this risk of snow and ice it is important people stay up to date with our weather forecasts and warnings.”
The showers are more likely to fall as rain in western parts of Wales, but this will lead to a widespread black ice risk, forecasters have warned.
Charities are urging people to look out for older relatives and neighbours. Age Cymru has published tips to help elderly people stay warm at home.
Its Keep Well this Winter campaign coordinator, Joanne Bass, said: “Older people need to look after their health during the winter months because the cold can have a detrimental effect.
“Cold weather can lead to respiratory illnesses and increase the risk of older people suffering hypothermia, a stroke or a heart attack.”
Council chiefs in Flintshire, where the coldest conditions are expected, say their streetscene unit is working to support the elderly living in sheltered housing. A spokesman said: “Discussions are on-going with community services to identify the number of units affected. The service will be carried out on roads and footpaths and the caretaker will utilise rocksalt to clear drives and paths.”