'Tis nice to see a welcome if slight thaw. The air outside doesn't feel so raw; the wind's dropped and temperatures climbed today above freezing. The hand salting of the town's footways yesterday has made a difference today. There are many more people about, too, and more businesses open. Yesterday, there was virtually nothing open on the Square. The health food shop opened this morning—it hadn't bothered all week: the proprietor no doubt had to look after children off school for part of it.
So, let's recap. A week of very cold weather. The lowest morning I noticed in Rhuthun/Ruthin was –5.5°C. This would have been lower overnight. It was –9°C across Llandegla Moor one of the mornings. It felt much colder in the strong easterlies.
Heavy, prolonged snow showers arrived Wednesday afternoon. There was more prolonged snow on Thursday, though this was light till about 2 p.m. and then it came, the light powdery stuff that began to drift in the wind. Later, during the evening and overnight to the early hours of Friday morning, we had several inches at low level. Estate and minor rural roads were whited out. Still it swirled and eddied in the stiff breeze.
Yesterday, main roads other than the Horseshoe Pass were nevertheless open, but there were drifts on higher level routes and the A5104 Bryneglwys and A525 Llandegla Moor as usual bore the brunt of that, with drifting over six feet tall. Even on lower ground, drifting was an issue. Villages to the south & west of Rhuthun were cut off; and Llanarmon, to Tremerichion via Llandyrnog was difficult at best.
Friday, however, resulted in all Denbighshire schools closing. Footfall in town was at its lowest, as staff struggled to get in or had to undertake child minding responsibilities.
Overnight Tuesday to Wednesday January 23rd to 24th, in spite of a *northerly* airstream, mild temperatures climbed to a high of 12ºC at 4 a.m. (sic). By 7 a.m., they were back to slightly below the season average, at 5½ºC.
Click to enlarge images
So, let's recap. A week of very cold weather. The lowest morning I noticed in Rhuthun/Ruthin was –5.5°C. This would have been lower overnight. It was –9°C across Llandegla Moor one of the mornings. It felt much colder in the strong easterlies.
Heavy, prolonged snow showers arrived Wednesday afternoon. There was more prolonged snow on Thursday, though this was light till about 2 p.m. and then it came, the light powdery stuff that began to drift in the wind. Later, during the evening and overnight to the early hours of Friday morning, we had several inches at low level. Estate and minor rural roads were whited out. Still it swirled and eddied in the stiff breeze.
Yesterday, main roads other than the Horseshoe Pass were nevertheless open, but there were drifts on higher level routes and the A5104 Bryneglwys and A525 Llandegla Moor as usual bore the brunt of that, with drifting over six feet tall. Even on lower ground, drifting was an issue. Villages to the south & west of Rhuthun were cut off; and Llanarmon, to Tremerichion via Llandyrnog was difficult at best.
Ysgol Brynhyfryd closed on Tuesday. Snow on Wednesday resulted in the school declaring it would close on Thursday, St David's Day. "As a result we face the significant risk of our pupils and staff being stranded at Brynhyfryd tomorrow [1-3-2018] afternoon... Thank you for your understanding". That snow did arrive but only at school closing time. The head was concerned about those who live on the hills... but what about those who could walk to and from school? An informed source within the local authority said that the head would've closed all week had he been able to get away with it. The only other schools to close on Thursday—all declared that morning—were from Llangollen to Cyffylliog. Ysgolion Rhos Street a Phen Barras stayed open.
Friday, however, resulted in all Denbighshire schools closing. Footfall in town was at its lowest, as staff struggled to get in or had to undertake child minding responsibilities.
Overnight Tuesday to Wednesday January 23rd to 24th, in spite of a *northerly* airstream, mild temperatures climbed to a high of 12ºC at 4 a.m. (sic). By 7 a.m., they were back to slightly below the season average, at 5½ºC.