Weather: Heavy snow warning as Arctic blast moves north

Commuters have been warned heavy snow could cause further disruption as the Arctic blast set to hit north and mid Wales on Thursday.

The Met Office has warned of power cuts and said rural communities could become cut off when its yellow weather warning comes into force at 00:00 GMT.

Up to 15cm (6in) of snow is forecast, with temperatures dropping to freezing.

It comes after 200 schools were shut on Wednesday after 10cm (4in) of snow fell in south, west and mid Wales.

Drivers, cyclists and pedestrians have also been warned of wet surfaces becoming slippery overnight.

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There is an ice and snow weather warning covering most of Wales in place until 07:00 on Thursday.

Although the southern parts of Wales saw the worst of the weather overnight on Tuesday and into Wednesday, the coldest temperature of -4C (24F) was recorded at Capel Curig in Snowdonia.

Now the Arctic blast is forecast to settle over the north of the country, as well as Scotland and northern England. The Met Office warning also covers mid Wales, where up to 15cm (6in) is forecast to fall over higher ground.

Traffic Wales has urged drivers to carry an emergency kit with them after the Met Office warned the weather could leave vehicles stranded.

While the snow caused disruption for motorists, parents and schoolchildren on Wednesday, many in Wales have been enjoying the snow and sharing pictures on social media.

Helena Jukes and her partner Gruff Williams, from Roath, Cardiff were due to fly to Venice today, but spent 13 hours in Bristol airport after flights were cancelled due to snow.

The couple are due to travel around Italy for about 10 days to celebrate Mr Williams's 30th birthday and to watch Wales v Italy in the Six Nations.

Ms Jukes said they booked new tickets to Rome to get to Italy to celebrate Gruff's 30th birthday today - but that flight, due to leave at 13:15 GMT, was also delayed.

"There were a lot of people, a few other cancellations and long delays - but spirits were generally high," said Ms Jukes.

Payton and Ashton Dolbear, aged 1 and 3, from St Mellons, were out on Caerphilly mountain with their parents on Wednesday morning.

"This is Payton's first ever snow," said mum Amy Dolbear.

"They woke dad up screaming", she added.

Mrs Dolbear said she thinks Payton "likes the idea of snow but not the cold".

The Dolbears said they had tried to buy a sledge but found they were all sold out.

"The earliest any of the shops has a sledge is next week," said Mrs Dolbear.

"They want one now."

Two mountain roads - the A4061 Rhigos pass between Treherbert and Hirwaun and the A4107 Bwlch road, between Abergwynfi and Nantymoel - remained shut on Wednesday evening.

The M4 was partially closed in both directions near junction 48 at Pontarddulais, in Swansea, as engineers carried out emergency pot hole repairs.

Dyfed Powys Police said a section of the A44 between Eisteddfa Gurig, in Ceredigion, and Llangurig, in Powys, was closed in both directions due to a crash. It is not known if that incident was related to the snow.

It comes after the A44 at Llandegley, Powys, was closed after an earlier crash. It has since reopened.

The A488 near Presteigne in Powys remained closed due to snow on Thursday evening.

Flights from Bristol Airport had earlier been suspended due to the snowfall, with a "snow clearing operation" taking place. The airport is reporting some residual delays.