Swansea escapes Storm Goretti snow – but Wales still hit by thundersnow, travel chaos and power cuts
While South West Wales’ main urban centres saw rain instead of the heavy snow forecast, conditions elsewhere deteriorated sharply, with parts of Pembrokeshire even experiencing rare thundersnow as schools shut, rail lines suspended, mountain roads closed and hundreds of homes left without power.
Mountain routes shut as blizzards hit higher ground
The Bwlch mountain road (A4107) was closed at 7pm on Thursday after conditions became unsafe. The joint decision by Neath Port Talbot, Bridgend and Rhondda Cynon Taf councils followed reports of drifting snow and falling temperatures. The route reopened shortly after 8am today.
Pembrokeshire saw some of the worst conditions, with heavy snow, sleet and strong winds creating hazardous driving on higher ground. The B4329 between Haverfordwest and Cardigan, which crosses the Preseli Hills, remained closed for long periods as blizzards hit the route.
Issues were also reported on the B4313 between Fishguard and Narberth, where drifting snow made conditions treacherous across the northern foothills.
Further south, the A478 from Clunderwen to Cardigan saw significant snow in places, with drivers warned to avoid higher ground as accumulations built up.
Council teams worked through the night to clear fallen trees, deal with surface water flooding and keep primary routes open.
Thundersnow caught on camera in Pembrokeshire
A dramatic burst of thundersnow was captured in Pembrokeshire overnight, with lightning illuminating heavy snowfall as Storm Goretti swept across the county.
Local resident Harvey Harbour filmed the moment and shared it on X, showing bright flashes lighting up the sky as snow fell across the area.
You can watch the video here:
Thundersnow!⚡❄️
Pembrokeshire
Never experienced anything like this…😰#uksnow #walesnow
#thundersnow #lightning#pembrokeshire #snow pic.twitter.com/OXONFBBzFM
— Harvey Harber (@HarberHarv7128) January 8, 2026
What is thundersnow?
Thundersnow is a rare weather phenomenon where a thunderstorm produces snow instead of rain.
It happens when a strong, unstable weather system forms above very cold air at ground level. The storm still generates lightning and thunder, but the precipitation falls as snow.
The lightning often appears brighter because it reflects off the snowflakes, while the thunder sounds quieter because the snow absorbs the sound.
Thundersnow can bring sudden heavy downpours of snow, reduced visibility and rapidly worsening road conditions.
Rail disruption continues across Wales
Transport for Wales services remain heavily affected, with suspensions and reduced timetables on several lines following snow, ice and fallen trees.
Routes impacted include:
- Craven Arms to Swansea (Heart of Wales Line)
- West of Carmarthen
- Maesteg to Ebbw
- Wrexham to Bidston
- Llandudno Junction to Blaenau Ffestiniog
CrossCountry services between Cardiff and Birmingham are not running, and passengers are being urged to check before travelling.
Your earlier Swansea Bay News reporting highlighted “do not travel” warnings issued yesterday as rail operators shut lines ahead of the storm.
Schools shut and power cuts reported
Across Wales, at least 150 schools are closed today, with Powys, Blaenau Gwent and Wrexham among the worst affected.
Around 600 homes were without power this morning, with further outages reported in north and mid Wales. Pembrokeshire also saw power cuts around Clunderwen and Bridell, alongside burst water mains in Haverfordwest.
Emergency services across Ceredigion and Powys reported “numerous incidents” overnight, with police urging people to avoid all but essential travel.
Swansea spared – but warnings remain in force
Despite fears of thundersnow and blizzard conditions reaching Swansea Bay, the city avoided the worst of the storm, with rain and sleet falling instead of snow.
However, Amber and Yellow warnings for snow, rain and wind remain in place across much of Wales, and forecasters say conditions may continue to change through the day.
Bridgend Council said all routes in the county borough remain open after crews dealt with fallen trees and blocked drains overnight.
What happens next
The Met Office says Storm Goretti remains a “multi‑hazard event”, with snow, strong winds and heavy rain still expected to bring disruption in parts of Wales.
Gusts of up to 70mph are forecast along the south coast, while higher ground in mid and north Wales may see further snow and ice as temperatures fluctuate.
Swansea Bay News will continue to update readers as the situation develops.
Related stories from Swansea Bay News
Storm Goretti: ‘Do not travel’ warning as rail lines shut and Wales braces for blizzard conditions
Rail operators issued severe travel warnings as Storm Goretti brought widespread disruption across Wales.
Storm Goretti: Amber and Yellow warnings split South West Wales as Met Office updates forecast
Updated Met Office alerts warned of snow, rain and strong winds across the region.
#AmberWeatherWarning #blizzard #BwlchMountain #featured #heavyRain #lightning #MetOffice #Pembrokeshire #PembrokeshireCountyCouncil #snow #StormGoretti #StrongWind #Swansea #SwanseaCouncil #thundersnow #walesnow #YellowWeatherWarning