Irish Timesreporters detail weather conditions from around the country
CORK
Sub-zero overnight temperatures made for the worst morning yet of the current cold spell in Cork city yesterday, with many roads and footpaths proving extremely treacherous as council staff worked to salt the main thoroughfares.
Gardaí reported a major increase in the number of collisions yesterday morning as roads into estates on higher ground on the northside and southside of the city proved very icy and dangerous.
Cork City Council made salt and grit available to local residents’ associations. Some footpaths in the city centre remained icy until lunchtime, but a rise in temperatures and a burst of sunshine in the afternoon improved the situation. There was concern that melted ice could refreeze as temperatures dropped last night.
Roads in Co Cork continued to prove highly dangerous, with secondary roads around Bandon, Dunmanway, Clonakilty, Skibbereen and Bantry especially treacherous following overnight temperatures as low as minus 4.
Many schools in Cork city closed early yesterday, while schools in Bandon, Clonakilty, Rosscarbery, Skibbereen and Bantry in west Cork remained closed though schools in Youghal, Midleton and Cobh in east Cork reopened.
SOUTHWEST
Roads in Kerry were in a treacherous condition yesterday after sleet and snow fell over night. The Ring of Kerry road was impassable in parts and grit was spread a number of times on the Moll’s Gap area between Killarney and Kenmare.
The Conor Pass remained treacherous and black ice was present on most roads in the Killarney and Tralee areas yesterday. Main roads fared better than minor ones, although grit dumps arranged by the council were being availed of by rural dwellers on the minor roads. The Cahirciveen to Waterville road, parts of the Portmagee road and parts of the N70, especially at Mountain Stage and Quills Cross, were highly dangerous, as were roads in the Castleisland area.
MIDLANDS
Army operations continued yesterday as heavy snowfall and freezing conditions continued to cause major problems. Almost 100 members of the Defence Forces assisted with the transportation of medical staff and delivery of meals. Troops operated at Tullamore, Mullingar and Ballinasloe hospitals, and delivered meals on wheels around Athlone.
Offaly County Council is to cease salting some roads over the weekend in order to conserve salt stocks. The authority has identified 11 routes which will cleared by snow ploughs instead of being treated with salt.
Laois County Council has begun distributing grit at a number of depots around the county. The grit is being offered to community and voluntary organisations.
The Mountrath to Clonaslee and Mountrath to Kinnitty roads in Co Laois are closed and the public are requested to refrain from using them. Motorists are advised to exercise extreme caution while travelling on the N80 between Two-Mile Bridge and the county boundary with Offaly. In Westmeath, the N4/M4 between Kinnegad and Longford was been treated and was operating on one lane in each direction. The N6/M6 between Kinnegad and Athlone was also open on a one-lane basis.
Bus Éireann services were continuing, with delays around the midlands. The Athlone to Waterford service was restricted and only in operation to Portlaoise.
Delays were expected on the N4 Dublin/Sligo Road between Rooskey and Newtownforbes in Co Longford due to a burst water main.
LIMERICK
LIMERICK City Council’s crisis management team met yesterday to discuss plans for dealing with weather conditions following the first snowfall in the region. While most roads were passable, some secondary routes were described as treacherous.
The council’s winter maintenance programme was in place yesterday, and full details of the council’s salting programme are available on the council’s website at limerickcity.ie. Limerick County Council is planning to introduce night-time water rationing over the next few days in a bid to maintain reservoir levels.
Householders were being advised to conserve water, as low pressure was causing problems. The areas most affected are Caher and The Hill in Abbeyfeale, Mountcollins, Athea, Caherconlish and Pallasgreen.
NORTHEAST
In Meath the council said its salt supplies were adequate but will have to be carefully managed to ensure it can continue to deal with priority routes for however long the cold weather continues. They advised extreme care to be taken on the old N3 route. The Rock road at Laracor, Trim should be avoided.
The council provided grit to communities around the county but said with further snowfall predicted it will have limited effect in such conditions. Army personnel assisted with snow clearance at Kilmessan and east Meath yesterday, and today they will be in Navan, Trim and Ashbourne.
Gardaí said the M1 and M3 were much improved and passable with care. However the N2 continued to present problems on the Ashbourne bypass.
NORTH
Heavy overnight snow in Donegal, Sligo and Leitrim yesterday morning left up to six inches in many places.
Donegal County Council confirmed yesterday that all main routes in the county were passable but required care. The worst problems were experienced in Inishowen, on the Barnesmore Gap and in parts of south and southwest Donegal.
The council said salt and grit stocks were being replenished daily. In Leitrim people were again urged to conserve water stocks as supplies begin to dry up because of increased consumption. Some areas, including Kinlough, have already had their water turned off at times with people being warned further disruptions will follow into next week.
WEST
Galway escaped much of the heavy snowfall forecast for the west yesterday, with the northwest experiencing far more severe conditions.
Sunshine and a rise in air temperatures resulted in a thaw across much of the city and parts of the county yesterday morning, but drivers in the north of the county were affected by black ice.
Galway City Council has appealed once again for water conservation. It warned that the partial thaw in daylight hours, combined with freezing temperatures at night, is leading to an increased risk of frozen or leaking water pipes.
In Mayo there were a number of flight delays and cancellations at Knock International Airport, where there was an early snowfall followed by freezing fog.
THE NORTH
Belfast International Airport at Aldergrove was shut for a time yesterday following significant falls of snow as another weather front crossed the region.
Western areas of counties Derry, Tyrone and Fermanagh were worst affected by the fresh snowfalls, which averaged some 15cm. The Mournes area of south Down was also badly hit, with dozens of schools being forced to close. Temperatures in the west again fell to lows of about minus 12, while parts of north Belfast suffered power cuts with some 1,300 homes being cut off for a time late on Thursday.