Thaw may be brief with chance of return to freeze next week

A LONG-AWAITED rise in temperatures will kick in from tonight – but there is a chance of Arctic conditions returning next week, Met Éireann has said.

With temperatures set to rise slowly over the next four days, widespread flooding is not anticipated as the country returns to more normal Atlantic-influenced weather conditions.

However, Gerald Fleming of Met Éireann said next week may see Ireland perched on the borders of two weather systems, one to the east bringing very cold continental air from northern Europe and one to the west bearing the more “usual” air from the Atlantic associated with this time of year.

Mr Fleming said it was too early to say which weather system would dominate.

Local authorities have appealed for people to conserve water and not to leave taps running at night. Galway City Council said reservoir levels had recharged sufficiently and that water pressure and supply had returned to the mains in areas affected earlier.

Meath County Council has appealed to consumers to conserve water. Residents of the Stamullen area are likely to experience low pressure today. Wicklow County Council will continue to cut supplies at night.

Dublin City Council said water resources had stopped disimproving and consumption, which had been increasing at a rate of 17 to 20 megalitres a day up to Monday, actually declined by eight megalitres on Tuesday night.

Water cut-offs will continue overnight in most areas in the Dublin region at least until a city council review tomorrow. City engineer Michael Phillips said the council was still clearing ice and snow from footpaths and he asked that pedestrians and motorists maintain their vigilance.

Dervla Brophy, communications manager for Luas operator Veolia, said Dublin’s Connolly stop remained closed because ice and snow had compacted on the awnings above the Luas platform. She said there was a danger that the ice could fall as a large sheet or block and cause damage to trams and injuries to passengers.

The Government’s emergency planning taskforce also repeated similar warnings for people – particularly smokers – to be careful when standing outside houses or business premises. During the thaw ice and snow may take several days to be removed from footpaths. Advice to pedestrians not to walk with their hands in their pockets or to make mobile calls while walking was repeated.

Gardaí, meanwhile, are investigating the death of a woman in Tuam, Co Galway, who is thought to have slipped on ice. The woman, who was in her 70s, was found lying outside her home on Bermingham Street yesterday. A Garda spokesman said her death was not being treated as suspicious.

The Garda Síochána has appealed for people to check on their neighbours, especially the elderly. It has also asked motorists to take continuing care on the roads, many of which are expected to remain dangerous.

Bus Éireann said the majority of its services were running yesterday while Dublin Bus will continue to have personnel out early in the morning assessing the condition of all routes.