We have put together a round-up of all the latest news, weather and travel information for Friday, February 18, that will help your get your day off to the right start.
A red danger to life warning has been issued by the Met Office for parts of south Wales and the whole of Wales is covered by an amber warning as Storm Eunice brings winds of up to 100mph. You can follow live travel and weather updates throughout the day here.
In other news coronavirus passes are no longer needed in Wales, and the infection rate has fallen again.
Wales news headlines
Red warnings as Storm Eunice heads to UK
Parts of Wales have been placed under a "rare" red alert as Storm Eunice approaches, and another one has been issued for eastern parts of England today.
Winds of up to 100mph and flood warnings are in place across Wales for the storm arriving on Friday, February 18. More details here.
Storm Eunice is set to be one of the "most impactful storms to affect southern and central parts of the UK for a few years."
The red warning indicates a "significant danger to life", and covers the south Wales coast between Swansea and Chepstow, as well as parts of southwest England. This is when red warnings have been issued in the past.
The serious alert is in place between 7am - 12pm on Friday, February 18.
Many local authorities have already announced school closures. You can keep up to date with those updates as we get them here.
All rail services in Wales are also being suspended on Friday due to the storm, and there will be no replacement services for the same reason.
The UK Government held an emergency Cobra meeting on Thursday to discuss the storm, with Wales' First Minister Mark Drakeford saying: "We are working very closely with national agencies, local authorities and the emergency services to prepare for the incoming storm Eunice.
“A red warning has been issued for much of south Wales from 7am on Friday, which means there is a danger to life. Amber warnings will be in place from early Friday morning for the rest of the country.
“We are expecting significant disruption to travel - all trains in Wales will be cancelled on Friday - so please think carefully and only travel tomorrow if absolutely necessary."
In the early hours of this morning a red weather warning for wind for the East of England including London was also issued by the Met Office ahead of the arrival of Storm Eunice.
Coronavirus headlines
Passes are no longer needed in Wales
Covid passes no longer need to be used in Wales from Friday, February 18.
From midnight the legal requirement to show proof of vaccination or a negative test to visit indoor or outdoor events and venues, including nightclubs, cinemas, theatres and concert halls will have ended, but events and venues will be able to continue to use it if they choose to.
The international Covid Pass will continue to be needed for international travel. Travellers will need to check the relevant countries’ rules for entry, including any different requirements for children, according to advice from the Welsh Government.
The Welsh Government's deputy minister for arts and sport, Dawn Bowden, said: "When it was introduced, the Covid Pass was part of a suite of measures to give people confidence, keep businesses open and to keep Wales safe. I’d like to thank all the sectors for their cooperation and feedback during this challenging time.
"With increasing numbers of people vaccinated and boosted, and thanks to the hard work and efforts of everyone across Wales, we are confident that coronavirus rates are falling and we can look forward to brighter times ahead." More details here.
Latest infection rate for Wales
The infection rate has fallen to below 300 per 100,000 people, according to the latest figures from Public Health Wales.
New data released on Thursday, February 17, and covering a 24-hour period shows 1,352 new positive cases, bringing the total to 805,836.
The overall number of people who have died within 28 days of testing positive in Wales has now risen to 6,935, after a further four deaths were recorded.
The latest infection rate based on PCR tests for the seven days up to February 12 now stands at 299.9 cases for every 100,000 people – a reduction from the 309.2 cases recorded on Wednesday. It's the first time the infection rate has gone below 300 since August 2021.
The infection rate based on PCR tests is only a guide to the spread of Covid in Wales as it does not include lateral flow test results, which are reported weekly in Wales. People with no symptoms who test positive on an LFT no longer need a confirmatory PCR test.
The latest data on lateral flow tests, published on Thursday for the week to February 12, show there have been a further 16,905 positive test results reported. That's down from 18,690 the previous week. Positivity also decreased from 11.87% to 10.24%. The highest incidence rate was in the Hywel Dda University Health Board area with 680.2 positive tests for every 100,000 people. Cases for your area here.
Weather
It is all about the weather today as Storm Eunice is set to bring disruptive winds and rain.
The full Met Office forecast for Wales says: "Dangerous and disruptive winds throughout Friday in association with Storm Eunice, resulting in large waves along coasts. Outbreaks of rain and hill snow clear into wintry showers for the afternoon. Maximum temperature 10 °C.
"Wintry showers largely easing off through the evening. Remaining windy for much of the night with gales along coasts. Feeling cold with a widespread ground frost and some icy patches. Minimum temperature 0 °C."
Travel
Here is how the roads are affected at 6am. Traffic Wales are expecting it to get worse during the day:
- M48 Severn Bridge is closed in both directions with diversions via the Prince of Wales Bridge
- The Bwlch, Rhigos and Maerdy mountain roads have all been closed
- There is a speed restriction of 30mph on the Briton Ferry Bridge
- The Celddau Bridge in Pembrokeshire is closed to high-sided vehicles
- The A55 Britannia Bridge is closed to high-sided vehicles and there is a speed restriction of 30mph
- One lane is closed on the A483 Dee Viaduct in Ruabon, Wrexham
Newbridge Road in both directions closed due to fallen tree between Bridge over the River Dee and Chapel Street.
National news headlines
PM to attend major security conference as tensions mount
Boris Johnson is set to join senior Government ministers at a major security conference in Munich this weekend amid rising tensions between Russia and Ukraine.
It comes as the UK warned the crisis in the region is at a "critical juncture", with Russia accused of "manufacturing a pretext" for launching an attack.
At a dramatic session of the United Nations (UN) Security Council in New York on Thursday, US secretary of state Antony Blinken laid out how a Russian incursion could unfold in the coming days.
He said "missiles and bombs" could be dropped on Ukraine following a "manufactured provocation" for conflict, which could take the form of a "fabricated so-called terrorist bombing inside Russia", or "a fake, even a real attack using chemical weapons".
Earlier, the UK accused Moscow of orchestrating a "false flag operation" as a pretext for invasion, as tensions continued to mount between Russian-backed separatists and state forces in east Ukraine - with shells hitting a nursery school.
Foreign Secretary Liz Truss, who was visiting Kyiv, said reports alleging "abnormal military activity" by Ukraine in the eastern Donbas region were a "blatant" attempt by the Kremlin to fabricate a reason for an incursion.
Speaking at RAF Waddington in Lincolnshire, the Prime Minister claimed there was a "false flag operation designed to discredit the Ukrainians" and "we fear very much that that is a thing we will see more of over the next few days".
He warned that Russian president Vladimir Putin would be "mad" to invade because it would result in a "bloody and protracted conflict".
Health bosses in England call to keep free Covid testing
A group that represents NHS bosses has called for free Covid testing to remain, despite speculation that it could be scrapped.
The NHS Confederation also said 75% of senior staff in England did not want self-isolation rules to end.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson is expected to announce new relaxations to Covid rules in England on Monday.
This could include scrapping PCR test centres and free lateral flow tests as part of a "living with Covid" strategy.
The government has spent billions of pounds on testing throughout the pandemic. Experts believe in future it could be used only in hospitals and care settings, or to deal with major outbreaks.
In the survey of more than 300 NHS leaders, four-fifths said they disagreed with the expected plan to end free testing.
And they also expressed the need for regular testing to continue for health staff and key workers.
Asked on Thursday if free Covid tests would be scrapped next week, Health Secretary Sajid Javid said: "We are looking at how we learn to live with Covid. And that does mean the protections we've enjoyed over the last few months, that they all should be reviewed.
"So we're looking at the very latest data and next week we'll have more to say about it."
Sport headlines
Justin Tipuric's entire season wiped out with injury
Justin Tipuric has been dealt a heavy blow with the news that he won’t play any rugby this season because of the injury he sustained on Lions duty last summer.
The outstanding Ospreys and Wales flanker has seen his campaign wiped out before it's even begun by the scapula problem he suffered in the Lions v Japan clash at Murrayfield last June.
Ospreys coach Toby Booth said the nature of the injury hadn’t been seen in rugby before and was one that resembled more a ‘road traffic accident’.
Read more: The latest Six Nations breaking news and headlines
Asked if he expected to see his captain before the end of the campaign, Booth said: “No, no we are not (expecting to see him this season).
“It’s time. The nature of the injury has never been seen in rugby before.
"It’s an injury that resembles more a road traffic accident, so we need to make sure that we’re in a 100 percent right position for him to come back and come back safely.
“The injury didn’t happen with us but it was a collision injury and a direct impact injury.
“It’s like a road accident and you hit the road — it’s that sort of level of impact. If you’re in a position on the ground and you can’t move then the force has to go somewhere and it goes through the body rather than through the floor. That’s the nature of the injury.” Read more here.
Cardiff's game against Zebre is off
Cardiff’s clash with Zebre, which was due to be played at the Arms Park on Friday night, has been postponed because of a red weather warning and the forecast of dangerously high winds.
A decision has been taken to reschedule the United Rugby Championship fixture for a later date, in the health and safety interests of all staff and team personnel involved.
Additionally, due to the severe weather warning, Zebre’s air travel could not be guaranteed, while logistical and facilities challenges do not allow for the game to be played on either Saturday or Sunday.
The decision has been made in consultation with the two teams and BBC Wales as the host broadcasters, with rescheduling details to follow from URC.
It adds further to the fixture backlog Cardiff are facing following a number of their matches having been postponed due to Covid-related issues.
Their back-to-back URC matches out in South Africa have been rearranged for next month, but they still have to find a new date for their Rodney Parade meeting with the Dragons, which was originally supposed to take place on New Year’s Day, and now this game against Zebre.
Roadworks
M4 - one lane closed due to roadworks eastbound from Junction 33 Cardiff West And Services to junction 32 Coryton. Closed. until February 28.
Politics in Wales today
The BBC show Any Questions is being recorded in Rhondda
The Commons is in recess until February 21
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