Snow warnings issued for Wales as Arctic air brings first major cold snap

Wales is bracing for its first significant blast of winter after the Met Office issued multiple weather warnings, including a yellow alert for snow and ice covering parts of the country.

Forecasters say a surge of Arctic air is sweeping across the UK, bringing the “first notable cold snap of this autumn” and creating hazardous conditions on Welsh roads from Wednesday onwards.

The Met Office has warned of snow showers, icy stretches, and the risk of travel disruption—particularly in south-west Wales, where a yellow warning for snow and ice will remain in place from midday Wednesday until late Thursday night.

A broader yellow ice warning also covers most of Wales until 11am on Wednesday, with temperatures expected to fall well below freezing overnight.

Met Office chief forecaster Neil Armstrong said the country should expect “winter hazards” over the coming days.

“Cold Arctic air from the north is firmly in charge of the UK’s weather,” he said. “Wintry showers will affect areas exposed to the brisk northerly wind, in particular … south-west Wales. Whilst not all places will see lying snow, accumulations of 2-5cm are possible where showers are most frequent.”

High ground in Wales could see deeper accumulations, and forecasters say ice will remain a persistent danger, especially overnight.

The cold spell follows widespread snowfall in Scotland earlier this week, with temperatures across the UK set to remain in low single digits. Rural Scotland may drop as low as –11°C on Thursday night.

Conditions are expected to become drier for many on Friday, with temperatures slowly rising and rain moving into western areas later in the day.