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Covid: Snow in Wales forces vaccination and test centre closures

Lisa | Weather Watchers Snowy rooftops at Knighton in Powys on SaturdayLisa | Weather Watchers
Up to 6ins (15cm) of snow has been forecast to fall on higher ground in Wales

Two Covid-19 vaccination centres and a test centre were forced to stay shut after snowfall caused disruption.

Vaccination centres in Merthyr Tydfil and Abercynon, Rhondda Cynon Taf, were shut, and a test centre in Llangollen, Denbighshire, also remained closed.

The Met Office issued an alert of up to 6in (15cm) of snow on ground above 800ft (250m) and "treacherous" road conditions are expected in north Wales.

Last weekend, four vaccination centres had to shut because of bad weather.

Cwm Taf Morgannwg health board said the two vaccination centres would reopen on Sunday after they were closed as a precaution.

Betsi Cadwaladr health board, which covers north Wales, confirmed it had closed a single Covid-19 test centre in Llangollen, but said tests could be booked at other centres.

"We apologise for any inconvenience caused," it said

A snowy scene in Llanferres, on the A494 between Ruthin and Mold
Llanferres, between Ruthin and Mold, was blanketed in snow earlier

Traffic Wales said snow had affected travel on the A5104 at Corwen, Denbighshire, the A525 at Coedpoeth near Wrexham and the A494 between Ruthin and Mold, Flintshire.

North Wales Police's rural crime team tweeted to say road conditions were "treacherous with snow and ice".

And officers covering Denbighshire advised people to "avoid" the A525 Horseshoe Pass at Llangollen.

The A525 Horseshoe Pass at Llangollen
Motorists were advised to avoid the A525 Horseshoe Pass at Llangollen, Denbighshire

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The Met Office said nearly 3in (7cm) of snow could be seen above about 500ft (150m) with a "low chance" that up to a foot (30cm) of snow may fall on higher routes in mid and north Wales, such as the Clwydian Range, until 18:00 GMT.

The warning covers Blaenau Gwent, Caerphilly, Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion, Conwy, Denbighshire, Flintshire, Gwynedd, Merthyr Tydfil, Monmouthshire, Neath Port Talbot, Powys, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Torfaen and Wrexham.

Met Office Map of snow areaMet Office
Saturday's snow warning covers 15 of Wales' 22 counties

A separate ice warning has been put in place for most of Wales, between 20:00 and 11:00 on Sunday.

A further snow and ice warning has been issued for Tuesday across north Wales, Powys and Ceredigion.

Granddadscott | Weather Watchers Snowy path in Llanbister, near Llandrindod Wells, PowysGranddadscott | Weather Watchers
A snowy Saturday in Llanbister, near Llandrindod Wells, Powys

The ice warning covers all of Wales apart from Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan.

A separate snow and ice warning from Monday night has since been lifted by the Met Office.

The Landygirl | Weather Watchers Snowy Saturday in LlangollenThe Landygirl | Weather Watchers
There was a covering of snow in Llangollen, Denbighshire