Thaw blimey!

Is it finally over?

The Newtown area woke up this morning to the clearest indication yet that the coldest snap in living memory could finally be over.

Dripping icicles and frantic birdlife activity greeted morning risers as the mercury touched up to 6 (that’s PLUS six by the way) for the first time in five weeks.

Drizzle has also been reported in parts of Newtown, Abermule and Caersws as the area collectively hopes that we are close to returning back to ‘normal’.

News of the warm weather front will be music to the ears of Powys County Council who have seen their salt stocks run dangerously low and another heavy snow fall could have put the region on red alert.

Shops reported a brisk trade and many went to the traditional Montgomeryshire Boxing Day hunt which was attended by Montgomeryshire MP, Glyn Davies, which has stoked up more discussion on the issue of fox hunting.

Facebooking last night, Mr Davies wrote: “Sunday papers suggest a no vote on repealing the hunting ban until 2012 - if then. I agree with that. Government should not be distracted from restoring our public finances. The law is such a pig’s ear that most hunting carries on unhindered anyway. I will be outside the Royal Oak in Welshpool tomorrow (Monday), with 1,000 others, 80 horses and 40 hounds, voicing my support.”

While forecasts are mixed depending on which weather source you use, it does seem certain that an end to the snow disruption is in sight. Some have predicted snow fall on higher ground but there is every chance the warmer temperatures will continue in most built up areas through the week.

For a detailed forecast, please visit: http://news.bbc.co.uk/weather/forecast/4199