Snow 'heavier than forecast' Schools and travel info In pictures: Snow-covered Wales

Winter's first snow brought several inches to some areas, particularly in mid, west and south-east Wales.

All of the Welsh emergency services confirmed the snow was causing problems overnight and into the morning.

On Friday flood watches were issued between Clarach Bay and Carmarthen and for the River Solva at Solva.

A speed limit of 50mph was in force between junctions 34 to 49 on the M4 and the A40 was closed at Kilgetty in Carmarthenshire after a lorry shed its load of concrete slabs across it.

The road was still closed at lunchtime on Friday.

In north Wales, falling snow greatly reduced visibility around Blaenau Ffestiniog, and was reported to be particularly bad on Crimea Pass.

Early morning snowfall covered this Swansea street

Carmarthen livestock market closed and will be held next Friday instead.

Councils across Wales had stockpiled thousands of tonnes of salt to prepare roads for the first cold snap of winter.

Flintshire council said it had put down 250 tonnes over the past four days and a dozen gritting lorries - some equipped with snow ploughs - patrolled during the night.

Pembrokeshire council fitted its 11 gritting lorries with snowploughs and the machines patrolled overnight.

Around 150 pupils at Ysgol Dewi Sant in St David's had to wait for an hour for a hill to be gritted to allow buses through to take them home.

In Gwynedd, 29 gritting machines targeted more than 700 miles of priority routes in the county, including the A55 and the roads into Ysbyty Gwynedd.

Higher parts of Aberystwyth received a light covering of snow

Carmarthenshire Council suspended all refuse collection with crews helping to clear the roads instead.

Day services for the elderly in the county were closed with home care workers using 4x4 vehicles to reach elderly people in their homes.

The Royal Mail said there would be no deliveries at all in the Llandysul area, while snow was also restricting deliveries in some rural parts near Carmarthen, Lampeter, Cardigan and the south Wales valleys.

Postman Bobby Griffiths walked eight miles from his home in Ferryside for work in Kidwelly at 0500 GMT.

"I didn't feel I could let my customers down so when my car wouldn't start I set off walking," said Mr Griffiths, 56, a postman for 34 years.

Peter Lees, of Trafficlink, based at Traffic Wales in Cardiff, said drivers in rural locations should consider putting a spade in their vehicle in case they need to dig themselves out of snow.

He said: "People should allow extra time for their journey and be prepared with the correct clothing, have some food in the car and keep listening to the traffic bulletins."

'Bitterly cold'

Meanwhile, Stena Line has cancelled all ferry services from Holyhead to Dun Laoghaire because of the bad weather.

BBC Wales weatherman Derek Brockway, said hail and snow showers, combined with the strong winds, would see temperatures plunging, with blizzard conditions on higher ground.

He added that further hail and snow showers were likely during the day.

"It really is going to feel bitterly cold, so a real taste of winter," he said.

The wind will also be strong on the northern and westerly coasts. While the highest temperature will be about 6C, wind chill will make that feel more like minus 5C.