Snow and ice in South Wales: the latest weather forecast

Snow and ice is likely to be replaced by heavy rain in South Wales later this week, as the big freeze finally begins to thaw.

Snow has caused travel chaos in the region in recent days, and forced a number of schools to close. Just yesterday motorists in Carmarthenshire were advised to make only essential journeys, and three people were injured in a minibus crash in Drefach.

Meanwhile Gower College Swansea campuses at Gorseinon, Tycoch and Llwyn y Bryn were forced to close because of the weather, as were more than 20 schools in Carmarthenshire.

The white stuff was seen as recently as yesterday evening, and only today has the big freeze truly begun to thaw.

While a yellow weather warning of ice remains in place until midday today, a sunny afternoon is on the cards. Temperatures could reach highs of 3C, and a clear night is forecast.

But while the thaw will most likely be welcomed, a combination of rain and snow melt could lead to localised minor surface water and river flooding. The Met Office has issued a yellow weather warning of rain on Sunday.

The public should be braced for localised flooding of low lying fields, recreational land and car parks, as well as a small number of homes and businesses.

The Met Office also warns of wet road surfaces, local travel disruption and longer journey times. Motorists are urged to drive according to the conditions encountered.

A light shower is forecast in Swansea from around midday tomorrow, due to turn into heavy rain by 3pm. Downpours are expected on and off for almost 48 hours, until around 6pm on Sunday.

A yellow rain warning is in place between 3am and midnight on Sunday.

In Carmarthen, heavy rain is due to fall from around midday tomorrow. It will most likely ease off into a light shower overnight, and subside by the early hours of Saturday.

But it is due to rain again on Saturday afternoon, and develop into a heavy downpour overnight. A yellow warning of rain comes into force at 3am, and light showers will continue until mid-afternoon.

In Neath, light rain is forecast from midday on Friday. It is set to turn into a heavy downpour by mid-afternoon, and fall until the early hours of Saturday.

The rain is due to fall throughout the day, starting as a light shower at around 9am. Heavy downpours are set to batter Neath overnight, with a yellow warning of rain coming into force at 3am on Sunday.

Sunday will be drizzly with sunny intervals, with a bout of heavy rain forecast at around 3pm.

But while umbrellas will be a necessity over the weekend, woolly hats and scarves may not. Temperatures are set to climb in South Wales from tomorrow, reaching highs of 8C on Friday and Saturday, and 7C on Sunday.

They should fall no lower than 5C over the weekend.

Monday is set to be dry with sunny intervals, but light showers may make an appearance in the evening. Temperatures could reach highs of 9C.

UPDATE 1.30PM:

A yellow weather warning of rain has been issued in South Wales for Friday.

The warning is identical to that already in place on Sunday.

Friday's warning has been issued between 3pm and midnight. Rain is forecast from around midday, due to turn heavy by around 3pm.

Gusty winds could accompany heavy rain this weekend. Gusts of up to 39mph are on the cards tomorrow, and up to 32mph on Saturday.

And as heavy rains batter much of the region on Sunday, wind gusts could reach speeds of 40mph. Meanwhile 50mph gusts are likely in Swansea on Monday.

UPDATE 2.05PM:

A yellow weather warning of snow has been issued for South Wales tomorrow.

The warning, which urges the public to "be aware" of snow lying on roads and pavements, has been issued between 9am tomorrow and 6am on Sunday.

The warning has been issued alongside a yellow warning of rain already in place. The rain warning comes into effect between 3pm and midnight tomorrow.

Temperatures are set to climb in South Wales tomorrow, reaching highs of 9C. But the Met Office warns it could feel much colder - as low as -2C.

UPDATE 4.50PM:

Parts of South Wales could wake up to mist tomorrow, the Met Office has said.

Mist is forecast in Swansea from midnight until around 6am, followed by cloudy skies and an afternoon of rain. Wind gusts could reach speeds of 36mph.