Snow is causing difficult driving conditions in parts of Herefordshire and surrounding counties such as Powys and Monmouthshire this evening.
The A465 Hereford to Abergavenny Road has a significant amount of snow on the road near The Skirrid.
Conditions are also described as ‘difficult’ on routes between Hereford and Kington.
The snow should turn to rain in the coming hours, with milder air sweeping in, but there is a risk of a spell of freezing rain, which could cause treacherous driving conditions.
Earlier Updates:
The Met Office has issued an amber warning for snow and ice across Herefordshire, with a spell of snow and freezing rain possible across the county this evening and overnight.
Met Office Warning:
‘Snow will become persistent and locally heavy as it pushes south to north across the warning area. As well as snow, a period of freezing rain is also likely bringing some hazardous travel conditions, before milder air follows across all areas by Sunday morning.
‘Whilst there is some uncertainty in details, 3-7 cm of snow is likely for much of the warning area, with locally 15-30 cm for the higher ground of Wales and the southern Pennines. Freezing rain could lead to ice accretion in places, especially parts of Wales, before the milder air leads to a rapid thaw of snow and ice in the south of the warning area through Sunday.’
The Met Office has also issued a rain warning for parts of Herefordshire on Sunday:
‘Outbreaks of rain, heavy at times, are likely on Sunday. 15 to 25 mm rainfall, combined with some thaw of lying snow, may lead to some flooding and travel disruption in places.’
Warning link – https://weather.metoffice.gov.uk/warnings-and-advice/uk-warnings#?date=2025-01-05&id=af42c8f2-01fd-46c8-8ab5-0078cf576395
Bryan Hicks from Herefordshire Weather Watch has also kindly provided us with his thoughts on the upcoming snow / rain event that is set to hit Herefordshire, as well as other parts of England and Wales on Saturday evening and into Sunday.
The Met Office has issued an Amber warning for Herefordshire, with 3-7cms of snow possible on Saturday evening, before a rapid thaw is expected to occur on Sunday morning when milder air moves in.
Bryan has shared his thoughts with us. Bryan shares regular updates on the weather (particularly snow!) on his Facebook Group – Herefordshire Weather Watch.
Visit now – https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1BCkdY4b8u/?mibextid=wwXIfr
Here are Bryan’s thoughts on the upcoming snow risk over the next 48 hours:
“In the near future Saturday will be the main day for snow risk. Saturday starts cold and bright but as we go through the afternoon we see cloud start to build as a low pressure system starts to push into the UK bringing that snow risk as milder temperatures meet the cold.
“Snow is looking pretty decent on the leading edge with an estimated 5cm and more over higher ground, (but a true volume is very hard to predict).
“There are some mixed opinions on how long it takes to push through with variations of 9pm Saturday to 1am Sunday before milder temperatures take control and things to sleety rain.
“Definitely one to be careful of as these events can cause issues quite quickly and catch us out.
“Looking ahead Sunday looks quiet on the snow front but Monday in the early hours will see a return of some snow showers. This is one to keep an eye on over the coming days.
“There is another low pressure popping up on few models for a week Saturday, but take that with a pinch of salt at this range for another risk of a good snow spell but please remember this is over a week away and very early signs.”
