The Met Office has issued two yellow weather warnings for Pembrokeshire this weekend, as thunderstorms and heavy rain are expected to cause significant disruptions across the county.

The first warning is in effect on Saturday, 21st September, from 1am until 11.59pm. Thunderstorms and heavy showers are forecast, bringing the potential for flooding, power cuts, and, in some cases, a risk to life.

A second warning has been issued for Sunday, 22nd September, also running from midnight until 11.59pm. This time, heavy rain is expected to impact the region, again causing potential disruptions.

What to Expect on Saturday, 21st September

The Met Office has warned that the thunderstorms and heavy showers could lead to several issues:

• • Difficult driving conditions and road closures due to spray and sudden flooding
• • Potential for some communities to become cut off by flooded roads
• • Delays or cancellations to bus and train services
• • Power cuts and disruptions to other services
• • Homes and businesses may experience rapid flooding, with potential damage from floodwater, lightning, hail, or strong winds
• • Fast-flowing or deep floodwater may pose a danger to life

A Met Office spokesperson added: “While there is some uncertainty in the details, scattered showers and thunderstorms are likely to develop and spread northwestwards at times later on Friday night and throughout Saturday. Although much of the time will remain dry, where storms do occur, 20-40mm of rain could fall in under an hour, with the possibility of 50-70mm over a few hours. Hail and frequent lightning may also accompany the most intense storms, particularly during Saturday afternoon and evening.”

What to Expect on Sunday, 22nd September

On Sunday, the primary concern will be heavy rain, with the Met Office warning of similar risks to those on Saturday, including:

• • Difficult driving conditions and temporary road closures due to spray and flooding
• • Rural communities could become temporarily cut off
• • Significant delays or cancellations to public transport services
• • Homes and businesses may experience flooding, with potential structural damage
• • Power cuts and loss of other essential services

The Met Office spokesperson noted: “Showers and thunderstorms are expected to merge into broader areas of heavy rain across parts of Wales, central, and southern England on Sunday. There is the potential for rainfall totals of 30-50mm in less than six hours, with some areas seeing 60-80mm over 12-24 hours.”

Southwest England is also expected to be affected by heavy rain early on Sunday morning, which may develop into slow-moving, heavy downpours during the day.

How to Prepare for the Weather Warnings

The Met Office has provided advice to help residents prepare for the incoming weather and reduce risks. A spokesperson said:

• “Consider whether your location is at risk of flash flooding and, if so, prepare a flood plan and an emergency flood kit.”
• “Secure any loose outdoor items, such as bins, garden furniture, and trampolines, before strong winds arrive.”
• “Check road conditions and public transport timetables before travelling to avoid delays.”
• “Prepare for power cuts by gathering torches, batteries, and other essentials, such as a mobile phone power pack.”
• “If you find yourself outside during a storm, seek shelter in an enclosed space such as a car, and avoid trees or structures that could be struck by lightning.”
• “In elevated areas, move to lower ground for safety.”

The yellow weather warnings are expected to remain in place from 1am on Saturday, 21st September, until 11.59pm on Sunday, 22nd September. Residents are advised to stay updated with the latest weather forecasts and to be prepared for any changes to the warnings.

SOUTH WALES POLICE have confirmed they have arrested four prison officers this morning at HMP Parc Prison in Bridgend, which houses many inmates from Pembrokeshire, following reports of a series of misconduct incidents. The officers, a 23-year-old woman from Bridgend, a 45-year-old man from Pontycymer, a 25-year-old man from Merthyr, and a 35-year-old man from Llanelli, were detained on suspicion of assault and misconduct in public office.

Detective Chief Inspector Dean Taylor stated that the investigation is in its early stages, and officers are working closely with G4S, the private firm managing the prison. The arrests come after concerns were raised on Wednesday, September 18, regarding the conduct of prison staff. Investigations are ongoing.

This arrest occurs just one day after Welsh Social Justice Minister Jane Hutt announced that HMP Parc was “much more stable” following the appointment of a new director in June 2024. The minister’s comments were part of broader praise for recent management improvements in the facility, which has been under scrutiny following a spate of inmate deaths, including four related to drug misuse.

The prison, managed by G4S, has been facing increasing concerns over safety, staff shortages, and allegations of misconduct. Calls for greater oversight have intensified, with today’s arrests further spotlighting the challenges at the institution.

An HMP Parc spokesperson said: “The vast majority of our staff are hardworking and honest. We are absolutely committed to rooting out any wrongdoing. “We take these allegations very seriously and are fully supporting the police with their investigation.”

WELSH tourism leaders have once again found themselves in the position where they have to ask a new First Minister to appoint a Minister with explicit responsibility for Tourism, following the recent Cabinet reshuffle.

The Wales Tourism Alliance, together with the Chairs of Welsh Government’s own Regional Tourism Fora wrote to Eluned Morgan when it was unclear what had happened to the express reference to a tourism Minister or Deputy Minister as in the past. The letter was also signed by Wales’s main independent destination management and marketing organisations; Visit Mid Wales, Visit North Wales and Visit Pembrokeshire. Representatives of the primary sectors within the industry, notably accommodation, added their signatures, as did representatives of the rural and retail economies of Wales.

Suzy Davies, Chair of the Wales Tourism Alliance said: “It’s a shame we have to make this case yet again. Unlike other nations of the UK, responsibility for tourism as an industry – it’s not just promotion – is retained within Welsh Government. It’s not an arms length body with the ability to make its own partnerships to raise money, or with a route to change leadership without a Senedd election.

“As a result it needs a Minister who has the time and focus to lead, find resources, accept accountability and champion the industry at Cabinet level.

“In the meantime, we welcome Rebecca Evans to her role as Cabinet Secretary for the Economy and look forward to meeting her soon. Tourism has faced yet another difficult year, with the poor weather really not helping to extend the season on top of well-rehearsed challenges around the cost of doing business, the pressure in holidaymakers’ own purses, and a slew of government policies, so we need that champion within Welsh Government.

‘’It will also be a chance for us to reinforce our position that the relationship between governments and the tourism industry should not be about setting fires and putting them out. It’s less exhausting and more productive to give weight to industry voices as we saw during lockdown. We all want our industry to prosper safely, sustainably and responsibly.

“We also hope that looking at policy through the lens of the economy rather than the finance brief will be a help in understanding the value of the tourism ecosystem; its role in a number of areas of government policy, and why it’s so important to protect it from collateral damage as well focusing on Visit Wales’s much-appreciated promotion work.”