Bitterly cold conditions are expected nationwide for the rest of the week, with weather warnings for low temperature and ice in place until Thursday at least. Values could fall as low at -10 degrees.
An orange weather warning for most of the country was due to expire at 10am on Wednesday morning, before being reinstated at 6pm for every county in the State except Donegal. Met Éireann said temperatures were forecasted to range between -2 and -8 on Wednesday night.
Keith Leonard, director of the National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management, said the country was facing “very difficult and very challenging” conditions on account of the extremely low temperatures.
“Because the snow stopped falling, there might be an air of complacency building, particularly about the condition of roads,” said Mr Leonard. “But these [current] conditions are very difficult and very challenging, and probably have a disproportionate effect among the most vulnerable in our communities.”
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[ How does this compare to previous cold snaps? Opens in new window ]
The National Emergency Co-ordination Group was due to meet on Wednesday and again on Thursday, said Mr Leonard, and possibly on Friday.
Met Éireann meteorologist Matthew Martin said parts of the country could see further sleet and snowfall before the week is out. “The cold spell looks like it’s going to continue, probably including Friday ... We have a band of rain [that] is going to push in from the Atlantic and there could well be some sleet and snow for a time on Friday morning in the south and southwest of the country.”
He said it was possible values could fall as low at -10 this week. Over the weekend, a gradual thaw will set in, he added, with midler weather expected.
Taoiseach Simon Harris warned that the weather expected in coming days will not be “normal winter temperatures” and people should be prepared for something dangerous and out of the ordinary.
Mr Harris said that extreme temperatures expected in the days ahead are potentially “dangerous to life” if people do not take precautions.
ESB Networks said approximately 6,500 homes, farms and businesses in Cork, Kerry, Limerick and Tipperary were without electricity on Tuesday evening. The authority made significant strides in restoring power to customers affected by bad weather — 17,000 had been without power on Monday evening.
ESB Networks regional manager Brian Tapley said some customers may be without power until Thursday.
Uisce Éireann was also able to restore water supplies to thousands on Tuesday, although 8,000 people in counties Tipperary, Limerick and Kerry were still without supply by 5pm. That number was expected to rise, said a spokesman for the authority, due to the continuing status orange weather warnings.
“Freezing ground puts stress on underground pipes and network connections to properties which can cause an increase in leaks and bursts,” said the spokesman.
The Health Service Executive said most hospitals were operating as normal on Tuesday, although there was some weather-related disruption.
“Some hospital appointments have been cancelled along with some community and day services,” said a spokesman. The HSE advised those with upcoming appointments to consult the executive’s website for news of local cancellations.
The Defence Forces carried out several mercy missions on Tuesday, including bringing four people to hospital in Cork for dialysis as they were snowbound in their Co Cork homes.
According to a Defence Forces spokesman, 135 personnel have been deployed so far to bring patients to hospital, while they have also assisted in getting essential healthcare staff to work.
The majority of schools were operating as normal on Tuesday. Paul Crone, director of the National Association of Principals and Deputy Principals, said schools would continue to monitor weather warnings and conduct risk assessments on Wednesday.
A number of District Court sittings scheduled for this week, in counties Cork, Kerry, Tipperary and Limerick, were cancelled or disrupted due to the weather.
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