As North Wales and much of the country awoke to a blanket of snow and biting cold on Tuesday, January 6, 2026, the region found itself grappling with widespread school closures and ongoing disruption. What was meant to be the first day back after the Christmas break for thousands of pupils instead turned into another day at home, as snow and ice rendered roads, pavements, and school grounds simply too hazardous to navigate.
The Met Office had issued a yellow weather warning for snow and ice, in effect from midday on Monday through to 11am on Tuesday, blanketing counties including Anglesey, Gwynedd, Conwy, Denbighshire, Flintshire, and Wrexham. According to BBC and North Wales Live, the warning was prompted by forecasts of scattered sleet and snow showers, followed by a sharp drop in temperatures that would freeze surfaces overnight. The Met Office cautioned that, while the risk was considered a "medium likelihood but low overall impact," the potential for disruption to daily life was real—especially for schools and public services.
Monday, January 5, had already seen dozens of schools across North Wales shuttered due to the treacherous conditions. By Tuesday morning, the list of closures had only grown. In Anglesey, all primary and secondary schools within the David Hughes, Ysgol Gyfun Llangefni, Ysgol Syr Thomas Jones, and Ysgol Uwchradd Bodedern catchment areas were closed. Canolfan Addysg y Bont, Ysgol Gynradd Rhosneigr, and Ysgol Llanfawr also joined the list. Local authorities announced that while buildings would remain shut, distance learning would continue for as many pupils as possible—a small silver lining in an otherwise chilly situation.
Gwynedd was similarly hard-hit. Schools such as Ysgol Rhosgadfan, Ysgol Garndolbenmaen, Ysgol Llanllechid, Ysgol Treferthyr in Criccieth, Ysgol Hirael in Bangor, Ysgol Uwchradd Tywyn, and many others were closed for the day. The closures extended to Ysgol Bro Idris, which operates across multiple sites in Dolgellau, Rhydymain, Dinas Mawddwy, Llanelltyd, and Friog, as well as notable secondary schools like Ysgol Tryfan in Bangor and Ysgol Brynrefail in Llanrug.
Wrexham also saw schools shut their doors, with Ysgol I D Hooson School in Rhosllanerchrugog and Ysgol St Christopher's among those affected. The impact was not limited to these counties. Across Wales, councils scrambled to update parents and staff on which schools would remain closed, as icy car parks, snow-covered playgrounds, and dangerous approach roads made reopening impossible.
Flintshire County Council, according to Deeside.com, confirmed that both bin collections and school openings were being disrupted by the wintry blast. A total of 14 schools were closed in Flintshire on Monday, January 5, including Argoed High School, Elfed High School in Buckley, Westwood Community Primary School, Southdown Primary School, Mountain Lane Primary School, Ysgol Terrig in Treuddyn, Drury Primary School, Ysgol Parc y Llan in Treuddyn, Castell Alun High School in Hope, Ysgol Mynydd Isa, Sychdyn Primary School, St Mary’s Catholic Primary School in Flint, and Abermorddu C.P. School. The council advised residents to leave their black bins and food caddies kerbside, promising that general and food waste collections would be prioritized and completed as soon as weather permitted.
In neighboring Wrexham, Ysgol Rhiwabon was also closed on Monday due to complications from the inclement weather, as reported by The Leader. Training days and staggered returns after the Christmas holidays meant that, for some pupils, the closures extended their break even further. For others, it was a frustrating interruption to a long-awaited return to normality.
The disruption extended beyond North Wales. Across the country, councils from Carmarthenshire to Pembrokeshire, Ceredigion to Powys, and Bridgend to Neath Port Talbot reported dozens of closures. In Carmarthenshire alone, schools such as Abergwilli Primary, Ammanford Primary, Bancffosfelen Primary, Bancyfelin, Beca Primary, and many more were closed on Tuesday. Many closures were due to hazardous conditions—snow and ice on school grounds and surrounding roads. Some schools, like Ysgol Bryn Castell in Bridgend, faced unrelated issues such as heating failures, compounding the misery for staff and students.
According to WalesOnline, several councils cited risk assessments conducted on Monday afternoon as the basis for their decisions. One Carmarthenshire council statement read: "Following a risk assessment carried out on Monday afternoon for Tuesday morning (06/01/26), it has not been possible to clear the snow or apply grit extensively enough to ensure a safe environment on site due to the freezing conditions." In other cases, schools remained closed because essential safety measures—like gritting car parks and walkways—couldn't be completed before staff and pupils were due to arrive. For some, the decision was made easier by forecasts of more snow flurries and freezing temperatures overnight.
Denbighshire and Conwy saw their share of closures as well, with schools such as Ysgol Plas Cefndy, Ysgol Penmorfa (which shifted to online learning), Ysgol Dewi Sant, Ysgol Brynhyfryd, and others remaining shut. In Conwy, Ysgol Aberconwy, Ysgol Awel y Mynydd, Ysgol Babanod Llanfairfechan, and several others were closed, often citing staff shortages and site safety as primary reasons.
The knock-on effects of the snowstorm were felt in other public services, too. Local authorities across North Wales and beyond warned residents to take extra care on icy roads and pavements, with emergency services on high alert for accidents and falls. Bin collections were delayed, public transport schedules were disrupted, and community services struggled to operate as usual.
For families, the closures posed a unique set of challenges. Parents scrambled to make last-minute childcare arrangements or adjust work schedules, while students toggled between online lessons and impromptu snowball fights in the garden. Teachers, meanwhile, worked to pivot lesson plans to virtual platforms, doing their best to maintain continuity in the face of adversity.
Yet, amid the disruption, there were moments of resilience and community spirit. School staff, local councils, and parents banded together to keep children engaged and safe, whether through remote learning or simply ensuring everyone was accounted for during the closures. For many, the snow day was a reminder of the unpredictability of Welsh winters—and the importance of adaptability in the face of nature's whims.
As the yellow weather warning lifted late Tuesday morning and the first rays of sunshine began to melt the icy grip on North Wales, the region looked forward to a gradual return to normal. But with more snow forecast later in the week, the experience served as a stark reminder: in Wales, winter is never to be underestimated.
