Cold snap to last until the weekend, Met Éireann saysFlight delays and public transport cancellations announcedFresh snow and ice warning issued until midday Tuesday34,000 without power, 40,000 with no water and 30,000 more at risk of losing itSchools remain closed in several counties
Follow our live blog for the latest on the Arctic conditions gripping the country, with schools in multiple counties to remain closed today.
Key updates
Roof of Tralee Sports Complex collapses mid major disruption in Kerry The Tralee Sports Complex, a regional sports and swimming facility, with almost 1,500 members, will remain closed to the public after a section of main roof collapsed under snow earlier today. The main roof collapsed internally into the hall itself, chair of the complex, Jim Finucane said. There was substantial damage too the main sports hall, although the pools appeared not to be affected, he said. Used by clubs and schools the Tralee Sports Complex has over 300,000 visits annually.The damage is being assessed, Mr Finucane said. The collapse was spotted before 7 am and emergency services called. Ice and heavy snow on electricity lines is leading to cables sagging and snapping the ESB has said a new threat of flooding hangs over the county. Hail and sleet is falling on many parts of Kerry this mid-morning. Major roads into the county – it was cut off yesterday for some hours – have now been cleared and traffic is moving across the county bounds to Cork and Limerick along the N22 to N21, though minor roads remain impassable or treacherous. Six thousand customers from Cahersiveen to Killorglin to Camp remain without electricity. Some customers have been out of power with 12 hours. There is a warning to walkers this morning to be aware live wires brought down by the snow and ice may be hidden in snow and to be extra vigilant. Delay in getting to areas to repair to sites to carry out repairs although some customers may be back by lunchtime. Hospital managers in UHK, in Tralee, the region’s acute hospital say they are faced with a twin difficulty of trying to get patients due for release out, and staff in. Many workers in Kerry have been unable to leave their homes and patients being discharged can’t be collected by family members. Mountain Rescue teams, tasked by the coastguard, are helping the hospital and the ambulance service. Roads remain treacherous and the council is asking the public not to travel unless necessary. Schools throughout the county are closed. Paths in urban areas remain covered with snow and pedestrians who are using the main roads instead of paths are asked to take particular care. Cars remain abandoned in some areas after becoming stuck. A hard freeze is forecast for the next three nights, Kerry County Council is warning. “Our Severe Weather Assessment Team and Inter Agency teams will meet throughout the weather event up to Thursday and will continue to issue updates via media and social media platforms,” a council spokesman said. River levels in Kerry are being closely monitored with fears of flooding as snow melts. Mountain passes remain closed. The public in Kerry are advised that driving conditions remain hazardous throughout the county, if driving, remain on salted routes, to only travel if necessary, to exercise extreme caution, to slow down and allow extra time for journeys, and not to travel on closed roads or high mountain passes. Vulnerable roads users (cyclists, pedestrians, motorcyclists) should exercise particular care. The Killarney National Park remains closed. Anne Lucey
What hospitals are affected?
‘Substantial’ number of schools closed in south – Education Minister
Education Minister Norma Foley has told RTÉ’s Morning Ireland that a “substantial” number of schools will remain closed in counties Carlow, Cork, Kerry, Kilkenny, Limerick and Tipperary but the majority across the country will open this morning.
Ms Foley said schools will make “the right decision and the best decision” when it comes to reopening and some may decide to facilitate online classes should they remain closed throughout the coming week.
She said she was conscious that some homes are without power or water, but some schools will run online classes “where it is feasible to do so”.
Tens of thousands of people are without power and water after heavy falls of rain, sleet and snow swept across the country, with counties in the south and southeast the worst affected by the cold snap.
A status yellow cold weather warning for the whole country has been extended to Friday evening, with temperatures due to drop to as low as minus 8C in places on Tuesday and Wednesday night.
Schools in several counties stayed closed today with the decision left to individual boards of management, depending on local factors.
Some hospitals have cancelled non-emergency services, while postal deliveries and other businesses have also been affected.
Stay on top of the latest developments with the Irish Independent’s live blog:
Uisce Éireann working to restore water supply to 17,000 customers in Tipperary
Roof of Tralee Sports Complex collapses mid major disruption in Kerry
The Tralee Sports Complex, a regional sports and swimming facility, with almost 1,500 members, will remain closed to the public after a section of main roof collapsed under snow earlier today.
The main roof collapsed internally into the hall itself, chair of the complex, Jim Finucane said.
There was substantial damage too the main sports hall, although the pools appeared not to be affected, he said.
Used by clubs and schools the Tralee Sports Complex has over 300,000 visits annually.The damage is being assessed, Mr Finucane said.
The collapse was spotted before 7 am and emergency services called.
Ice and heavy snow on electricity lines is leading to cables sagging and snapping the ESB has said a new threat of flooding hangs over the county.
Hail and sleet is falling on many parts of Kerry this mid-morning.
Major roads into the county – it was cut off yesterday for some hours – have now been cleared and traffic is moving across the county bounds to Cork and Limerick along the N22 to N21, though minor roads remain impassable or treacherous.
Six thousand customers from Cahersiveen to Killorglin to Camp remain without electricity.
Some customers have been out of power with 12 hours.
There is a warning to walkers this morning to be aware live wires brought down by the snow and ice may be hidden in snow and to be extra vigilant.
Delay in getting to areas to repair to sites to carry out repairs although some customers may be back by lunchtime.
Hospital managers in UHK, in Tralee, the region’s acute hospital say they are faced with a twin difficulty of trying to get patients due for release out, and staff in.
Many workers in Kerry have been unable to leave their homes and patients being discharged can’t be collected by family members.
Mountain Rescue teams, tasked by the coastguard, are helping the hospital and the ambulance service.
Roads remain treacherous and the council is asking the public not to travel unless necessary.
Schools throughout the county are closed.
Paths in urban areas remain covered with snow and pedestrians who are using the main roads instead of paths are asked to take particular care.
Cars remain abandoned in some areas after becoming stuck.
A hard freeze is forecast for the next three nights, Kerry County Council is warning.
“Our Severe Weather Assessment Team and Inter Agency teams will meet throughout the weather event up to Thursday and will continue to issue updates via media and social media platforms,” a council spokesman said.
River levels in Kerry are being closely monitored with fears of flooding as snow melts. Mountain passes remain closed.
The public in Kerry are advised that driving conditions remain hazardous throughout the county, if driving, remain on salted routes, to only travel if necessary, to exercise extreme caution, to slow down and allow extra time for journeys, and not to travel on closed roads or high mountain passes.
Vulnerable roads users (cyclists, pedestrians, motorcyclists) should exercise particular care.
The Killarney National Park remains closed.
Anne Lucey
HSE cancels non-urgent appointments across Cork
Non-urgent appointments scheduled for today (January 6) have been cancelled across Cork, the HSE has announced.
HSE South West has said that all non-urgent appointments, such as outpatient appointments and other clinical appointments, have been cancelled for Monday.
Jack Joy/Corkman
Kerry farmers help HSE deliver essential medical supplies and personnel through heavy snow
The IFA in Kerry have been mobilised by the HSE to help deliver essential medical supplies and personnel.
It comes as farmers throughout Kerry are helping to deliver essentials and this lunchtime alone have pulled cars out of ditches and in one instance in mid Kerry a local farmer used his tractor to help pull an oil truck that was stuck in snow in mid-Kerry.
NECG meeting held
The National Emergency Co-ordination Group (NECG) met again earlier today to discuss the response to the poor weather.
“We will continue to see wintry showers and extremely cold temperatures over the coming hours and days, and hazardous travel conditions will continue for much of the week,” NECG chair Keith Leonard said.
“Given the prevalence of extremely low temperatures throughout the country over the next few days, road and path surfaces will present a hazard to drivers, cyclists and pedestrians. Even where there has been no snow, icy conditions will prevail and surfaces may look deceptively safe.
“Furthermore, it’s important to emphasise again that even where roads have been salted, people should slow down, drive with caution and allow extra time for their journey. Drivers travelling longer journeys should be aware of conditions right along their route, as conditions are differing widely across different parts of the country.
“As well as looking after yourself, we are also asking you to look out for others.”
Rail service back up and running
The Limerick to Ballybrophy rail service via Nenagh will operate again this evening after being out of action this morning.
Challenging routes in Co Cork
Cork County Council’s crisis management team held a meeting this afternoon to assess weather conditions, the roads and plan ahead for the remainder of the cold snap.
A number of routes in the county remain challenging, the council said in a statement, including:
R578 Newmarket to Freemount, where the road has been treated but conditions remain poor.
R578 Bog Cross to Dromina, which remains very poor.
R515 Newtownshandrum Village also remains very poor.
L1320 – N20 to Churchtown is very poor. Caution is to be exercised in vicinity of railway crossing as road conditions are very slippery.
R619 to Bweeng, which has not been treated and road conditions are very poor.
R579 Banteer to Nadd remains closed due to a combination of fallen trees and snow accumulations.
The cold snap over the weekend has severely impacted parts of County Wicklow, with numerous schools across the county forced to close their doors on Monday due to the freezing and treacherous conditions.
Significant snowfall accumulations left roads in Wicklow Mountains National Park in a hazardous condition, leading Wicklow’s mountain rescue teams to issue a warning asking motorists to stay away for at least 48 hours, with the Sally Gap particularly treacherous.
However, Glen of Imaal Mountain Rescue Team took to social media to berate drivers for travelling along impassable roads, stating: “While we’re here to help, and we will help, people need to take some personal responsibility. This weather warning is well advertised and is due to continue for a number of days. Taking your family on impassable roads, during a weather warning, in vehicles not suitable for the conditions is just idiotic. Please take the warnings seriously.”
It said multiple mountain rescue units have helped over a dozen people ‘”stuck in multiple vehicles on impassable roads in the Wicklow Mountains” on Sunday evening.
Majority of postal routes in some counties closed – An Post
Speaking to RTÉ’s News At One, Anna McHugh of An Post said the “majority” of postal routes in counties Cork, Kerry, Kilkenny Limerick and Tipperary are closed today, while 37 post offices in those areas have been forced to closed. Of those, 12 are suffering from power outages while 25 have access issues for staff.
“We’ll be proceeding with a safety first approach for all of our staff and our postmasters. People shouldn’t worry if they’re due a social welfare payment or any other kind of business, their payment will be there for them, they’re not to worry about that and we will certainly reopen as soon as we possibly can,” she said.
Ms McHugh said the bad weather continuing in the coming days will mean a need to “play it by ear”, with distribution also impacted by the poor conditions.
“Our local knowledge is unique and we’ll be able to get through wherever we can and wherever it’s safe to do so, but we have to be mindful of the sort of warnings that are in place and conditions that are forecast over the next couple of days that indeed could be even more widespread than we’ve seen so far.”
Army called in to assist with works – NECG chair
The National Emergency Co-ordination Group met earlier today and the group’s chair Keith Leonard has said the army have been called in to help with restoration works.
Speaking to RTÉ’s News At One Mr Leonard said they have been assisting both the ESB and Uisce Éireann, particularly in remote, rural areas where access to damaged lines may be difficult.
“Civil Defence have also been helping the emergency responders, particularly the HSE providing that excellent snow and ice capability of travel that they have for response,” he said.
Mr Leonard said work carried out by local authorities to clear roads has been difficult and advised people to be careful while out walking as many footpaths will be left untreated for a number o days.
Frost will form in most areas after dark following a very cold afternoon, according to the latest forecast from Met Éireann.
Uisce Éireann: 43,000 without water
Around 43,000 people are without water according to Uisce Éireann, mainly in Kerry, Limerick, Tipperary and the north of Cork. There are a number of burst water mains in Dublin.
A further 27,000 people are at risk of losing supply due to low reservoir levels.
Snow in northwest Cork
Cork County Council has said primary roads are treated and passable, but other routes are “in very poor condition” and impassable in some places, while it has begun snowing again in the Newmarket area of northwest Cork.
“The focus in north, north-west and mid Cork are the priority 1 and 2 routes as well as towns and villages,” a statement reads.
Tipperary was blanketed with snow over the weekend, in the heaviest snowfall seen in the county since the Beast from the East in 2018.
Snow, ice and freezing conditions caused numerous power outages across Tipperary on Saturday and Sunday, while many schools remained closed on Monday morning, January 6.
The advice to motorists is to avoid all unnecessary journeys where possible. “Don’t put yourself in any danger,” said Sergeant Carol O’Leary. County Council crews are gritting the roads, and ESB teams are working around the clock to attend to outages reported up and down Tipperary, affecting thousands of householders.
An Garda Síochána and Clare County Council have warned residents in the county to take extra care while travelling this week as a number of roads are still under a blanket of snow this morning, Monday January 6, with the danger of icy surfaces.
Advice from Uisce Éireann
As work continues to restore water supply to 40,000 people, mainly in Cork, Kerry, Limerick and Tipperary, Uisce Éireann has issued advice on conserving water and preventing pipes from freezing. A further 30,000 people are at risk of losing supply due to low reservoir levels.
“We are urging households, businesses and farmers to protect outside taps and to insulate exposed pipes and tanks which are particularly vulnerable to freezing,” said Uisce Éireann head of water operations Margaret Attridge.
“We are asking people to check for leaks and to turn off water to exterior pipes or unoccupied premises. Alternatively, people may consider setting the heating for these areas to come on periodically at a lower temperature.
“This allows warm air to circulate and will help to prevent pipes and tanks from freezing in the cold weather.”
No unnecessary travel in Cork
Cork County Council is advising against unnecessary travel this morning and pedestrians should take extra care where there is snow or ice.
Road users should still take care on roads that have been salted due to the possibility of “underlying snow or ice”.
Pub owner Micheal Brosnan clears a path outside his bar in in Cashel, Co Tipperary. Photo: Reuters
Brian and Ellen Kelleher enjoy the blizzard conditions at Mahon Falls in the Comeragh Mountains, Co Waterford. Photo: Patrick Browne
Met Éireann has issued a Status Yellow warning for low temperature and ice for the entire country that will remain in place until 12pm on Thursday.
The forecaster does not expect a thaw until later this week, possibly on Thursday or Friday.
Met Éireann meteorologist Mark Bowe told RTÉ: “The cold air will stay with us now for most of this week but looking towards about Thursday or Friday, we are seeing signals of some warmer air pushing in which will thaw things out, so it’s really until about the end of (the) week we won’t see a bit of a thaw, I’m afraid.”
The Department of Education said the decision to reopen today would be left up to each individual school.
“As school transport services may operate on rural, secondary roads, which may be untreated, this could result in disruption during a spell of adverse weather,” a spokesperson said.
“Safety remains the foremost priority. If a school plans to close or where transport is affected, communications of all such decisions will issue locally between schools and parents or transport providers and parents.”
Playing at snow angels in Tralee. Photo: Domnick Walsh
The National Emergency Co-ordination Group (NECG) met twice yesterday to discuss the disruptive weather.
“Even where roads have been salted people should slow down, drive with caution and allow extra time for their journey,” said Keith Leonard, director of the National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management.
“Drivers travelling longer journeys should make themselves aware of conditions right along their route, as we are seeing a wide range of weather conditions across different parts of the country.
“Footpaths may also be extremely hazardous and slippery due to ice, so please take extra care while walking.
“I would urge all members of the public to take extra care with all activities and to check out the Met Éireann and Be Winter Ready websites for further updates and advice.”
Met Éireann has forecast a “bitterly cold day” for today with highest daytime temperatures of 1C to 5C with widespread frost and lying snow. There will be some sunshine with scattered showers of rain, sleet, snow and hail.
A robin eats from a bird feeder in Limerick. Photo: Damien Storan
There is also a possibility of some thunder. Overnight temperatures are expected to drop as low as -5C in some areas. Scattered showers of snow and sleet will be most frequent in the north and west of the country.
Temperatures are expected to fall even further over the course of the week.
Tomorrow night will be coldest with lows ranging from -8C to -3C. Highest temperatures during the day on Wednesday will be between -3C and 3C, with lowest temperatures of -7C.
The Road Safety Authority (RSA) warned motorists and other road users that travelling conditions would remain difficult over the coming days as rain, sleet and snow continue to fall and icy conditions persist with the low temperatures.
“With treacherous conditions on many routes, the RSA strongly advises against unnecessary travel, including trips for snow tourism,” a statement read.
“Staying off the road network unless absolutely essential and/or using safer modes of travel not only reduces your risk and the strain on emergency services but also helps keep roads clear for essential travel.”
Eleven counties across the south and southeast were under Status Orange warnings for snow, ice or rain yesterday, with some areas experiencing heavy accumulations of snow. There were a number of road closures in affected areas and motorists were forced to abandon their cars, including in Clare and Kerry.
Low visibility during the last race at Naas Racecourse in Co Kildare yesterday. Photo: Inpho
Around 15,000 people were without water last night, with Uisce Éireann head of operations Margaret Attridge saying: “Our crews are continuing to work to maintain and restore supplies. We are urging households, businesses and farmers to protect outside taps and farm troughs and to check for leaks and to turn off water to exterior pipes or unoccupied premises.
“Alternatively, people may consider setting the heating for these areas to come on periodically at a lower temperature. This allows warm air to circulate and will help to prevent pipes and tanks from freezing in the cold weather.”
Yesterday morning, Taoiseach Simon Harris spoke to the NECG about the official efforts being made during the cold snap. He thanked the workers around the country helping “keep people safe and well, including many local authority staff who were out gritting roads either very late or very early in the morning”.
“It is really important people continue to be very vigilant when it comes to road and travel conditions and also that we all look out for people in our community who may be vulnerable or isolated during this period,” Mr Harris said.
“The very cold weather will continue for much of this week and our teams at national and local level will continue to work hard. The impact of snow and sleet and rain freezing in the coming hours and remaining frozen will need to be monitored very closely.”
Bus Éireann services throughout the day yesterday were cancelled, though Irish Rail services were largely unaffected. There were five cancellations at Dublin Airport, but air travel operated mostly as normal including in Cork and Shannon, though there were some delays.
In the UK, there was significant disruption as runways at Liverpool, Manchester and Leeds Bradford airports were closed for a number of hours while snow was cleared.
