In a year that saw the seasons finally returning to Wales with a cold winter and a scorching summer we take a look back at BBC Cymru Wales highlights from 2013.

Weather wise, January began fairly mild but by mid-January it was all change as an icy easterly wind blew in from Russia bringing snow and plummeting temperatures.

January marked the 150th anniversary of the birth of David Lloyd George.

In contrast, The Six Nations in February began with an unseasonably mild start. After a disastrous start, Wales found their winning form to deliver one of their greatest ever performances, thrashing England 30-3 to win the championship.

Meanwhile Swansea City claimed their first major knockout trophy, beating Bradford to win the League Cup at Wembley. Thousands of Swans fans turned out to watch the victory parade through the streets of Swansea.

The Brecon Beacons National Park was granted special protection, becoming Wales’ first international dark sky reserve, one of only five in the world.

Night time fun in the Brecon Beacons by Dan Santillo

Rhossili Bay by Paula J. Jones in the BBC Wales Nature Flickr group

Nev from The Call Centre

Summer sunset by Gill Jones

South Bishop island. Photo: Adrian Owens

Les Tambours de Brazza performing at Womex 2013. Image: Yannis Psathas

Tara Hammett and volunteers from the DVLA for the Live Longer Wales season

Audience watching Manfred Mann at Sophia Gardens, Cardiff, 24 September 1964

Robert Morgan and his reindeer

I'd like to start my first blog of 2012 by wishing you all a very Happy New Year! But sadly there's not much to celebrate on the weather front...

Wales has been hit by the worst storm of the winter so far with heavy rain, flooding and severe gale force winds causing widespread problems.

At the peak of the storm this morning, the wind reached violent storm force 11 on the Lleyn Peninsula with a gust of 93 mph at Aberdaron. While 71 mph was recorded at Mumbles Head in Swansea.

Some parts of Wales have already had a dusting of snow but it looks like we could be in for the first proper snow of the winter later tonight and tomorrow morning!

Mind you, it's not going to snow everywhere, it will depend very much on where you live and how high you are above sea level. Some places will just have rain.

Based on the latest information from the Met Office, the higher ground of South and Mid Wales could be worst hit by snow but of course things could change with further updates later today.

There is still some uncertainty on the path of a deepening area of low pressure moving in from the Atlantic.

A change in direction of just 50 to 100 miles north or south can make all the difference as to which part of Britain will get heavy rain, snow or severe gales.

This evening rain in Pembrokeshire will spread across the rest of Wales and it will turn increasingly to sleet and snow after midnight. On the coast it will probably stay as rain or sleet but snow inland.

The Met Office has issued a yellow and amber snow warning for parts of Wales. Amber means be prepared for some disruption.

Forecast chart for 6am on Friday, 16 December, 2011.

Parts of Mid Wales, the South Wales Valleys and Monmouthshire could have 2 to 5 cm of snow, 1 to 2 inches.

However over 10cm (4 inches) is possible on higher ground e.g. the Heads of the Valleys, the Black Mountains, Brecon Beacons and the hills of Powys.

The snow will be the wet, sticky kind and consist of big flakes. It will settle, especially but not exclusively on higher ground.

Cardiff and Swansea may get away with little if any snow but I wouldn't rule out a light covering on some cars and the grass.

Tomorrow the rain and snow will move away but in the north showers will move in from the Irish Sea, some of these heavy falling as rain, hail, sleet and snow with thunder possible too.

We've had just about everything thrown at us today - heavy rain, sleet, thunder, snow and hail the size of large peas.

Mark Hillman sent in this picture via twitter. The road in Ystradfellte covered in hailstones making driving conditions treacherous and it's been a similar story in other parts of the country too.

We've also had plenty of rain and some flooding with over 11 flood alerts in force at the time of writing and a flood warning on the River Dee from Llangollen to Chester.

There have been strong to severe gale force winds as well. At Mumbles Head, in Swansea a gust of 81mph was recorded this afternoon with gusts of 67mph at Aberdaron on the Lleyn Peninsula.

The reason for the disturbed weather is low pressure. The air over us has come from Greenland so its unstable producing towering clouds and heavy showers.

One of the stormiest periods the UK has seen for years is set to continue this week with Wales in the firing line for more heavy rain, gales and some snow too.

The Met Office has issued weather warnings.

The reason for the turbulent weather is the jet stream, a ribbon of strong winds travelling at speeds of around 200mph high in the atmosphere around 30,000 feet.

This will steer areas of low pressure in from the Atlantic bringing spells of wet and windy weather and some heavy rain is likely with gales and a risk of localised flooding.

On Tuesday and Wednesday the air will be cold enough for some of the showers to fall as sleet and snow.

Most of the snow will be on ground above 100 metres or 300 feet. The snow will settle in places, especially on some hills and mountains where 5 to 10 cm (2 to 4 inches) of snow is possible but I wouldn't rule out slushy deposits on some lower ground.

Later on Thursday and into Friday we could be in a significant spell of stormy weather as a deep area of low pressure steams in from the Atlantic.

We could see wind gusts of 60 to 70mph, with some exposed coasts and hills touching 80 mph.

At the moment, though, there is some uncertainty about the exact track, the storm will take and consequently which part of the country will be worst hit.

Don't forget you can follow me on Twitter @derektheweather and send your weather photos by email to dereksdiary@bbc.co.uk.

Take care

Derek

A selection of photos from the leftovers of Hurricane Katia as it battered into Wales on Monday.

It's certainly been a wild and windy start to the week with strong to severe gale force winds buffeting Wales for the second time this month.

The strongest winds were in the north on the Llyn Peninsula where the wind touched storm force 10 on the Beaufort Scale on Sunday morning.

The strong winds caused travel disruption, structural damage and tree damage with many trees still being in full leaf making them particularly vulnerable.

We've had much worst storms in the past though such as in January 1990, when an intense Atlantic depression hit Britain causing widespread structural damage, travel disruption and 47 deaths.

Hurricane Katia

The gales we've been experiencing over the last few days are due to the remains of Hurricane Katia. She started life as a minor disturbance off the west coast of Africa on August 27, became a tropical storm on August 30 and finally developed into a hurricane on September 1.

Later as she moved northeast into the North Atlantic and began to lose strength, being downgraded to a tropical storm on September 11. The centre of the storm crossed northern Scotland and then headed eastwards towards Norway last night, weakening all the time.

We don't get hurricanes in Britain

In Britain, we don't get full blown hurricanes because the sea around us is too cool for them to form. Hurricanes develop over tropical seas where the surface water temperature is 26 degrees Celsius or higher.

Sometimes, we get the "tail-end" of hurricanes in Britain that are carried towards us by the Jet Stream but by the time they reach our latitude they lose some of their energy and change into a deep Atlantic depression.

In 1986 the "tail-end" of Hurricane Charley lashed Wales creating the wettest August Bank Holiday on record and creating a major disaster in the Republic of Ireland.

So they can still pack a punch but are less destructive compared to when they are over the Caribbean or the Gulf of Mexico.

How hurricanes get their names

Hurricanes names are chosen from a list selected by the World Meteorological Organization. The Atlantic is assigned six lists of names, with one list used each year.

Every sixth year, the first list begins again. Each name on the list starts with a different letter, for example, the name of the very first hurricane of the season starts with the letter A, the next starts with the letter B, and so on.

The letters "Q", "U", "X", "Y" and "Z", are not used because few names begin with those letters. If more than 21 storms should occur in any season, then there is a reserve list that uses the Greek alphabet.

When an unusually destructive hurricane hits, such as Hurricane Katrina, that hurricane's name is retired and never used again.

2011 hurricane names: Arlene, Bret, Cindy, Don, Emily, Franklin, Gert, Harvey, Irene, Jose, Katia, Lee, Maria, Nate, Ophelia, Philippe, Rina, Sean, Tammy, Vince, Whitney.

Today will be windy but not as strong as yesterday. On Wednesday the wind will ease further and Thursday looks like the best day of the week, remaining dry with light winds and some sunshine thanks to a ridge of high pressure.

Derek

It's been a wet few days in mid and north Wales with some flooding. At Lake Vyrnwy in Powys, 189.4mm of rain has fallen since the beginning of the month, more than than the February average which is 138.7mm.

Some rivers are swollen and at the time of writing there are three flood warnings in the lower and upper Dee Valley and at Bangor on Dee. We've had some amazing photos sent in too, with the River Dee resembling a raging torrent.

Today, February 2nd, is Candlemas Day - a traditional Christian festival.

It was the custom on Candlemas Day for clergy to bless candles and distribute them to the people and a lighted candle was placed in churches and windows to brighten up the dark winter nights.

In Pagan times, it was known as the 'feast of lights' and celebrated the mid point of winter, half-way between the shortest day in December and the spring equinox in March.

In the United States and Canada, Candlemas Day is better known as 'Groundhog Day' - made famous by the film starring Bill Murray and Andie MacDowell.

In the United States and Canada, Candlemas Day is better known as 'Groundhog Day' - made famous by the film starring Bill Murray and Andie MacDowell.

Yes, it's definitely Groundhog Day ;)

According to folklore, if it is cloudy when a groundhog emerges from its burrow on this day, it will leave the burrow and winter will soon end.

If it's sunny, the groundhog will see its shadow and go back into its burrow for another nap, and winter will carry on for another six weeks!

Some people believe that the weather on Candlemas Day can tell us what the rest of the winter will be like and there's an old rhyme:

'If Candlemas Day be fair and bright, winter will have another fight but if Candlemas Day be clouds and rain, winter is gone and will not come again.'

Well, it is raining today but it would be a brave person who says that winter is over...

There is no sign of any more heavy snow on the horizon, at least in the next two weeks, but of course it can snow in March and snow is more common at Easter than at Christmas.

In the meantime, I can promise a drier and brighter day tomorrow with some sunshine but make the most of it, because there is more wet and windy weather on the way later this week. Some heavy rain is likely too with strong to severe gale force winds but nothing compared to what Cyclone Yasi will be unleashing on Northern Queensland shortly.

Derek

We've had a respite from the heavy rain today but there is more to come this evening.

The Met Office has issued a warning for southern counties from Swansea across to Cardiff, Monmouthshire and The Valleys.

Another 15 to 20 mm of rain is likely with 30 to 40 mm on higher ground and given that the ground is already saturated, there is a risk of more flooding to come.

Most of the rain recently has fallen in the south, west and Mid Wales. At Pant Mawr on the River Wye over 120 mm has fallen in the last 48 hours (just under 5 inches) but it's not been wet everywhere.

Hawarden in Flintshire has only had 5 mm as most of the rain there falls on the mountains, leaving the north coast and the north east drier.

Currently there are 17 flood alerts in force and 4 flood warnings. The flood-line number 0845 988 1188 or take a look at the environment agency website.

Friday morning will start cloudy with some rain across the country but generally drier in the Marches and north east. During the day, the weather will gradually brighten-up, turning drier.

There will be a few scattered showers but the sun will break through in places and visibility will improve too. Top temperatures 10 Celsius with a south-westerly breeze.

As for the weekend, I'm afraid there's more rain, drizzle and strong winds on the way.

On Saturday the heaviest rain will be in the north west and it should be drier in the south and east. It will feel mild but windy with a strong to gale force south-westerly wind.

On Sunday the rain will spread south east - some of it heavy with a risk of more flooding but it will clear up later.

That's it for the time being.

Derek

I've decided I don't like January - it's dark when you wake up and dark when you go home at night. Roll on Spring I say and hopefully some better weather too!

The rain I promised yesterday has well and truly arrived with warnings of heavy rain up and down the country.

In the 12 hours leading up to midday today, 24mm of rain has already fallen at Mumbles Head weather station in Swansea, so just under an inch.

20 mm of rain was recorded at Capel Curig in Snowdonia and there's plenty more rain to come so some large rainfall totals are expected.

The heaviest rain will be in the south and west and Mid Wales. Typically 40 to 60 mm by the end of today with over 100 mm on higher ground in Powys, Ceredigion and Gwynedd.

Some rivers are already swollen and at the time of writing, there are seven flood alerts in force across Wales and this number is set to rise.

Last year was drier than average in Wales. Dennis Smith from Llandeilo recorded just 39 inches of rain over 12 months but it's going to be anything but dry over the next few days...and we could expect to see up to 6 inches falling on higher ground.

It is however going to turn milder (which will help with the heating bills) but very wet at times with a risk of flooding.

The rain will be heaviest on high ground in the south and west and in Snowdonia. Rainfall totals between 75 to 150mm are possible. That's 3 to 6 inches and the Met Office has issued weather watches for the heavy rain.

On Friday, the rain should clear bringing sunshine and showers in the afternoon.

Saturday will be mild but wet and windy with gales although the south east may well be drier.

So, most of us are in for a good soaking over the next few days with many rivers becoming swollen.

Hopefully you won't need it but the Floodline number may come in handy - 0845 988 1188, or visit the Environment Agency's website for details of any flood watches and flood warnings that are issued.

Derek

A lot of our weather this winter has come from the Arctic and Scandinavia hence the snow and ice but this week it's back to normal.

It was a cold start this morning with some frost and icy patches but the weather pattern is now on the change.

The jet stream is going to move north towards Britain over the next few days, so it will turn milder but wet and windy at times with south-westerly winds bringing plenty of rain from the Atlantic.

So it's good news for surfers as this area of low pressure will produce some big waves towards the end of the week with 3-4 metre swells forecast for South Wales.

The winds however will be mainly onshore, south westerly but sheltered spots should be good according to Gull.

The Met Office has issued a warning of heavy rain for parts of South Wales and Powys this afternoon:

The weather will improve on Tuesday but I'd make the most of any dry weather and sunshine because more rain is on the way tomorrow night.

The rest of the week will remain mild and unsettled as low pressure brings spells of wet and windy weather with the rain being heaviest on the hills and mountains in the south and west.

By the end of Saturday, rainfall totals could be around 100 to 125 mm, (4 to 5 inches), so there is a risk of some flooding as the ground becomes saturated.

Frost is unlikely this week as it will remain mild but the waterproofs will definitely come in handy at times.

Episode Two of Weatherman Walking is on telly tonight at 7.30pm on BBC One Wales. Find out all about the two featured walks as well as maps & photos on the new website.

thanks

Derek

Wales is currently being buffeted by the strongest winds of the Autumn so far!

The strongest winds are in the north and north west and at the time of writing there is a warning of severe gales on Anglesey with 70mph gusts in exposed places.

The reason for the stormy weather is a deep area of low pressure moving across Scotland. The lines on the chart are called isobars. The closer they are, the stronger the wind.

The highest wind gust so far today in Wales is 78mph at Capel Curig in Snowdonia. The weather station there is 600 feet above sea level so very exposed.

Lower down it's less windy but still very blustery with a gust of 55 mph recorded at St. Athan in the Vale of Glamorgan.

Tonight will remain windy with gales and severe gales on exposed coasts and hills in the north and up to storm force on the mountains.

There will be a few showers but otherwise dry and at least there's far too much wind for any frost so temperatures will be staying well above freezing.

Tomorrow the strong winds will slowly ease. There will be some dry and bright weather on offer too and just the odd shower here and there.

However, increasing cloud will bring rain into the south and west during the afternoon reaching Ceredigion, Powys and later southern Gwynedd.

Saturday will be breezy with a mixture of sunshine and scattered showers. Mind you, rain is expected on Saturday night and into Sunday followed by sunshine and showers again.

And now for my Blue Peter moment....

How do you fancy making a Ukulele from a margarine tub, a piece of wood and some fishing wire?

Tune it, learn to play a song and then perform in a mass ensemble in less than four hours?

If you do...then head down to the Welsh Institute of Sport at Sophia Gardens, Cardiff on Friday, 11 November between 10am to 2pm. It's all for Children in Need and Pudsey and Behnaz Akhgar will be there too.

The event is free, all we ask is that you give a donation to Pudsey or raise a minimum of £5 sponsorship.

So why not come along and join us either come directly to Sophia Gardens or to reserve your place, and they are going fast, either email Hwyl@hybu.co.uk or telephone 0845 890 1592.

The weather is in much better shape today with sunshine and lighter winds across the country but don't be fooled, it's very much the calm before the storm...

Trouble is brewing over the Atlantic. The jet stream, with a core speed around 170mph, is steering a deepening area of low pressure towards Scotland bringing a dose of wet and windy weather tonight.

There will be plenty of heavy rain and strong to gale force winds as the jet stream moves right over us on Thursday.