Wales breaking news plus weather and traffic updates (Thursday, September 18)

Tomorrow’s weather forecast

A mix of wet and dry weather throughout the day. The Met Office forecast for tomorrow reads:

Increasingly cloudy in the west with rain and drizzle pushing north-eastwards, turning heavy at times. Some brighter and drier intervals in the east. Winds continuing to ease. Feeling humid. Maximum temperature 20°C.

No trains between London and Reading

All lines are blocked due to a fault with the Overline Line Equipment and all services are cancelled until further notice.

Great Western Railway have warned that disruption is expected until the end of the day.

More details here.

Customers should NOT ATTEMPT TO TRAVEL between London Paddington and Reading.

A fault with the Overline Line Equipment (OLE) means all lines are blocked. We are extremely sorry for the disruption this is causing.

Engineers are working hard to resolve the issue but all services… pic.twitter.com/41wCBVD8SU

– Husband (@gwrhelp) September 18, 2025

Children hit outside primary school

Two children were hit by different cars outside a primary school in Blaenavon earlier this week. A nine-year-old boy needed hospital treatment following one of the incidents at school drop-off time.

Concerned parents have set up a petition in the aftermath of the incidents calling for a road safety crossing or other adequate safety measure to be placed on the road pick up and drop off times.

Full story here.

Woman missing from Baglan

Police are appealing for information after Sandra Jones, 78, was reporting missing.

She was last seen at her home address in Baglan yesterday and there is concern for her welfare.

Anyone with any information is urged to contact the police and quote the reference number 2500300408.

UK News: Trump heads home after state visit

Donald and Melania Trump have boarded Air Force One marking the official end to their two-day state visit.

The US president has spent time with a sea of royals and politicians during his trip which saw an elaborate state banquet at Windsor Castle last night.

You can read more about the UK-US press conference here.

Traffic round-up

Here’s where the traffic hotspots are in Wales at the moment.

• There is an accident and broken down vehicle causing delays on the A48 Western Avenue Eastbound at Mynachdy Road (University Hospital Of Wales).
• On the M4 there are delays of five minutes through the M4 Brynglas Tunnels Westbound.
• In Newport, there is slow traffic causing delays of ten minutes on the A48 outbound. There is also queuing traffic on the A48 Southern Distributor Road at B4237 Corporation Road Traffic lights.
• In Swansea, one lane is closed due to flooding on A483 Carmarthen Road Eastbound from Pentre-Gethin Road to Gors Avenue.

Heavy fog in parts of Wales

There is patchy fog in Carmarthenshire this afternoon following a wet week of rain.

Man missing for three weeks

Police are reappealing for information on the whereabouts of Jamie Loader, from Cefn Fforest.

The 47-year-old is described as of stocky build, approximately 6ft 3″, bald with light hair on the sides and tattoos on his left arm.

Gwent Police we can now confirm that the last sighting of Jamie Loader was on Thursday 28 August.

CCTV enquiries have confirmed that Jamie was at One Stop, Blackwood at around 4.30pm on Wednesday 27 August.

Anyone with information is urged to contact police using the reference 2500285576.

Accident blocks road

In Gwynedd, the A499 is partially blocked, resulting in slow traffic, due to an accident at the Llithfaen turn off.

Tonight’s weather forecast

The Met Office has forecast the weather for Wales this evening.

It writes on its website: “Remaining cloudy in the west overnight with drizzle persisting over hills.

“Drier in the east with a few clear spells. Windy in the northwest, but winds easing elsewhere by dawn.

“Minimum temperature 12 °C.”

Flooding blocks road

In Bridgend, the A4093 is blocked in both directions due to flooding at Dimbath Lane.

Traffic is coping well.

Armed police called to secondary school

A Welsh secondary school went into lockdown following hoax reports that a firearm was on the site.

Specially-trained firearms officers from Gwent Police were called to a concern for safety at Bassaleg High School in Newport just before 10am on Wednesday, September 17.

It is understood a caller claimed a firearm was on the school site. Read more here.

Met Office issues 21-hour weather warning for this weekend

A yellow weather warning has been issued by the Met Office for Wales this weekend.

From 9am on Saturday until 6pm on Sunday, the meteorological service says the areas of Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion, Conwy, Denbighshire, Flintshire, Gwynedd, Isle of Anglesey, Pembrokeshire, Powys and Wrexham will be affected.

Click here to read more.

M4 lane re-opens after flooding

All lanes have now re-opened following earlier flooding on M4 eastbound from junction 43 A465 (Llandarcy) to junction 42 A483 (Swansea East / Briton Ferry).

‘Extensive’ search carried out at beach

An extensive search was carried out of a beach after reports of a “despondent” woman on a beach.

A statement from Port Talbot Coastguard read: “Our team was tasked, alongside Porthcawl Coastguard and HM Coastguard – Mumbles, to assist South Wales Police in responding to a report of a despondent female on Aberavon Beach.

“RNLI Port Talbot was launched and conducted an extensive search of the beachfront, the River Afan, and the River Neath before being stood down.

“Coastguard teams continued operations, deploying two units to search designated areas. One team covered the Promenade, Scarlet Ave Car Park the beach itself, while the second team searched along the dockside of the River Afan and the Green Stars area through to Newbridge Road aswell as the Promenade and North Pier.

“Following several hours of thorough searches, during which all identified areas were comprehensively covered, the operation was stood down with no sightings. We were later informed that the female had been located safe and well inland.”

The search was carried out at 12.31pm on Tuesday.

Police close road due to overhanging telephone lines

Police closed a road last night as a safety precaution due to overhanging telephone lines.

Guttering had fallen off a property in Plough Road, Landore, Swansea, which led to the issue.

A statement from South Wales Police read: “Officers attended Plough Road, Landore, Swansea at around 8pm yesterday (Wednesday, September 18) following a report of telephone lines hanging over the road after guttering had fallen off an adjacent property.

“Officers briefly closed the road as a safety precaution ahead of the fire service’s attendance.

“The road has since been reopened.”

A fire service spokesman added: “At 8.21pm on Wednesday, September 17, the Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service crew from Swansea Central fire station were called to an incident at Plough Road in Swansea.

“The crew responded following fallen telephone cables crossing the road, which had been caused by fallen roofing and guttering debris.

“The cables were blocking vehicles from using the road. Crew members were involved in making the scene safe and arranging for an engineer to attend the scene. Personnel from South Wales Police were also in attendance.

“The crew left the scene at 9.03pm.”

Fallen tree closes road

A road is closed due to fallen tree.

A statement from Gwent Police read: “The road is currently closed between Swyffrd Road at the Junction of Keirhardie Crescent (southbound) and the junction of Oxford Place, High street Llanhilleth (northbound).

“Please avoid the area and find alternative routes.”

Broken down vehicle causes disruption

In Conwy, one lane is blocked due to a broken down vehicle on the A55 at Puffin roundabout (Dwygyfylchi).

Traffic is coping well.

Flooded roundabout latest

Swansea Council has issued an update to motorists on Cwmbwrla roundabout in Swansea, where huge disruption continues after it was flooded on Sunday.

A statement issued at 6.40am read: “Due to the heavy overnight rain, we will not be able to open one lane of the inbound section of Carmarthen Road, from Cwmbwrla roundabout this morning during the rush hour.

“Thank you for your continued p atience as we work with partner agencies on this issue.”

Congestion warning

Traffic Wales has warned of congestion on the offslip of M4 westbound junction 30 Cardiff Gate.

It says: “Delays are possible. Allow extra travel time.”

Obstruction blocks road

In Cardiff, the A4232 Grangetown Link eastbound is partially blocked, with queueing traffic, due to an obstruction on the road from A48 Cowbridge Road (Culver House Cross) to B4267 Leckwith Road (Leckwith Interchange).

Delays in Cardiff

In Cardiff, there’s queueing traffic on A4232 inbound around A48 Cowbridge Road West / A4050 Port Road (Culver House Cross).

Travel time is 20 minutes.

20 minute hold-ups

There’s congestion on A470 southbound from A4223 (Pontypridd) to M4 junction 32 (Coryton Interchange).

Travel time is 20 minutes.

Heavy traffic

There’s heavy traffic on the M4 into the Brynglas Tunnel eastbound before junction 26 A4051 (Malpas Road).

M4 lane closed due to flooding

One lane is closed due to flooding on M4 Eastbound from junction 43 A465 (Llandarcy) to junction 42 A483 (Swansea East / Briton Ferry).

Traffic is coping well.

Today’s weather forecast

The Met Office has forecast the weather for Wales today.

It writes on its website: “A cloudy, damp and mild start to Thursday. Cloud breaking in the east with some brighter spells, but drizzle persisting over the hills in the west. Staying windy and humid. Maximum temperature 20 °C.”

Good morning

Good morning and welcome to WalesOnline’s daily news blog.

The breaking news team is here to bring you all the latest news and updates today.

Time to get started.