Wales weather warnings as Storm Bert brings rain and strong winds

Storm Bert is causing disruption across Wales, with weather warnings in place for high winds and heavy rain on Saturday and Sunday.

The Met Office said wind gusts of 82mph (130km/hr) had been recorded at Capel Curig in Conwy county, with gusts of up to 60mph (96km/hr) expected inland and up to 70mph (113km/hr) in coastal areas.

The National Grid said about 900 properties were without power in south and west Wales.

Across Wales, people have been advised to prepare for potential flooding, compounded by melting snow, with up to 150mm (6in) of rain possible.

Natural Resources Wales has issued two flood warnings on the River Loughor and River Cothi in Carmarthenshire.

Met Office chief meteorologist Jason Kelly said: “Storm Bert is what we call a multi-hazard event, bringing snow, rain and wind to the UK for the majority of the weekend.

“It’s expected to develop during Saturday morning across the southwest, becoming particularly heavy and persistent overnight and into Sunday.”

He said 50-75mm (2-2.9in) of “particularly heavy and persistent rain is expected to fall fairly widely and the rapid melting of lying snow over the weekend may bring flooding for some”.

• A yellow weather warning for rain is in force across Wales until 06:00 on Sunday
• A yellow weather warning for strong winds is in force until 21:00 on Sunday for Anglesey, Bridgend, Cardiff, Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion, Conwy, Gwynedd, Neath Port Talbot, Pembrokeshire, Powys, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Swansea and Vale of Glamorgan
• An amber warning for heavy snow is in force across Scotland and northern England

Some rail services have already been disrupted.

The Conwy Valley and Heart of Wales lines – which run from Llandudno to Blaenau Ffestiniog and Swansea to Shropshire, via Carmarthenshire and Powys, respectively – will be closed on Saturday and Sunday because of the storm’s expected impact.

Replacement road transport will be in place for the duration.

Other lines are so far operating as normal, but passengers have been advised to check before they travelled.

On the roads, the M48 Severn Bridge has been closed in both directions due to strong winds.

And speed restrictions are in place on the A55 Britannia Bridge between Anglesey and the mainland.

Irish Ferries’ Saturday crossings between Pembroke Dock and Rosslare have been cancelled and Stena Line’s services between Fishguard and Rosslare.