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File photo Shutterstock/Albina Tiplyashina

Drivers urged to exercise 'extreme caution' due to snow and ice on roads

Very icy conditions have been reported in many areas, particularly on minor roads.

LAST UPDATE | 24 Jan 2021

GARDAÍ HAVE ADVISED people to exercise “extreme caution” if making an essential journey today due to icy conditions.

A new Status Yellow Snow/Ice warning is in place around Ireland until 7pm today after an initial warning in effect until noon expired.

Met Éireann is warning of “scattered falls of sleet, snow and hail continuing for the rest of today” and “icy and hazardous conditions”.

When the snow/ice warning ends at 7pm, a Status Yellow low temperature/ice warning is due to start.

The later warning, which is valid from 7pm until 10am tomorrow, warns of weather that is “icy and very cold with lowest temperatures of -5 to -2 degrees Celsius generally, colder locally”.

Very icy conditions have been reported in many areas across the country, particularly on secondary routes and on higher ground.

“Please take care if embarking on an essential journey this morning. Reduce speed and stay safe,” a garda statement said.

AA Roadwatch said “very icy conditions” have been reported in most parts of the country today, with snow also affecting routes in some areas.

“Allow yourself more time to fully de-ice your car before making an essential journey and stick to main routes where possible as these are more likely to have been gritted.

“It can take up to 10 times longer to stop a vehicle on icy roads, so slow down, avoid harsh manoeuvres and keep well back from whoever’s in front,” a statement noted.

AA has flagged the following routes in particular:

  • Galway: Extreme caution is advised around Clifden and on the N59 between there and Maam Cross after snowfall last night.
  • Westmeath: Snow is affecting driving conditions on the M4 and M6 near Kinnegad, so extreme caution is advised.
  • Dublin: Snow has affected eastern parts of Dublin, particularly northeastern areas including Swords, Malahide and Howth.
  • Wexford: Particularly icy conditions have been reported on the N25 between Wexford Town and New Ross.
  • Wicklow: Gardaí advise avoiding the Sally Gap, Wicklow Gap, and all upland areas where possible due to icy conditions.
  • Waterford: Snowy conditions are affecting the city and eastern parts of the county at the moment.
  • Kerry: The Conor Pass is impassable due to snowfall. Use alternative routes if you must travel, but bear in mind icy conditions have been reported on the N86 on the Dingle side of Camp too. The Ballaghisheen Pass near Cahersiveen is also impassable due to snowfall. Particularly icy conditions have been reported on the N21 between Castleisland and the turnoff for Knocknagoshel and the N71 at Moll’s Gap.
  • Kerry/Cork: Snow is affecting the N22 at the County Bounds between Ballyvourney and Clonkeen.

The latest road updates can be read here

Coast Guard warning

The Irish Coast Guard has also issued a warning due to the snow and ice.

Yesterday evening the Coast Guard responded to a call from a walker who had slipped on ice and sustained a leg injury on a trail on Howth Head in Dublin.

20210123_210629 (1) The rescue in Howth yesterday Fergus Cooney / Irish Coast Guard Fergus Cooney / Irish Coast Guard / Irish Coast Guard

The casualty was given medical attention and had to be stretched off the trail, which was “treacherous in parts, due to black ice”, to an NAS ambulance.

In a statement the Coast Guard said people who are exercising within their 5km limit should remain vigilant and cautious, and in an emergency contact 112 or 999.

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17 Comments
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    Mute David Connell
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    Jan 24th 2021, 9:45 AM

    Plenty of notice.

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    Mute Paul Furey
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    Jan 24th 2021, 10:09 AM

    @David Connell: and met eireann were spot on again

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    Mute David Connell
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    Jan 24th 2021, 9:43 AM

    Well I hope council’s grit the roads, they get

    39
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    Mute Michael Wall
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    Jan 24th 2021, 10:04 AM

    @David Connell: The clue is in the title of the article, don’t expect normal conditions even if the road is gritted. Stay safe everyone

    81
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    Mute Irene Millar
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    Jan 24th 2021, 10:10 AM

    @David Connell: motorway in Wicklow was brutal this morning. Wasn’t touched by a gritter. Main road between rathnew & rathdrum was treacherous. Pretty hairy drive to work

    36
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    Mute Bert Carolan
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    Jan 24th 2021, 11:41 AM

    @Irene Millar: The word Treacherous only ever comes out in winter and in relation to roads.

    6
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    Mute Luan Willis
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    Jan 24th 2021, 3:11 PM

    @Bert Carolan: Indeed. Treachery has been defined as ‘conduct that assists an enemy’. So if the weather is deemed to be the ‘enemy’ then road users are the guilty ones if something bad happens. Best to stay at home as advised.

    7
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    Mute Shane McGrath
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    Jan 24th 2021, 10:29 AM

    Interesting that they post an image with winter tyres. It’s very difficult to get a decent set of winter tyres in Ireland.

    34
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    Mute Paul
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    Jan 24th 2021, 10:43 AM

    @Shane McGrath: Bibendum do an all weather tyre which a family member uses and is reckoned to be one of the best you can buy (and won’t break the bank) for this type of weather

    18
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    Mute Greig Fairfield
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    Jan 24th 2021, 2:48 PM

    @Shane McGrath: bought mine from grip500, delivered by courier and gor fitted locally, approx €60 each fitted. Massive difference!

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    Mute Lucious Sweet
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    Jan 24th 2021, 5:16 PM

    @Shane McGrath: buy online from a a European website. And get a Subaru to go with them

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    Mute Lucious Sweet
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    Jan 24th 2021, 6:00 PM

    @Greig Fairfield: they make all the difference. Out here in the alps they are mandatory. Put them on an all wheel drive car and you can basically drive up to 80% of your normal pace

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    Mute ed w
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    Jan 24th 2021, 9:56 PM

    @Shane McGrath: it’s very easy. go to your local tyre centre, or oponeo.ie . I have Bridgestone all seasons got me up white donegal roads in a regular car no problem today.

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    Mute Shane McGrath
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    Jan 25th 2021, 12:04 AM

    @ed w: it’s not that easy. Most of them don’t supply winter tyres. I drive a 4×4. One id1ot tyre depot owner in Co. Kildare told me that “basically nothing works on ice”. I bought Vredestein Wintrac Pro. The difference is incredible.

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    Mute Bennett blaster
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    Jan 24th 2021, 4:34 PM

    The fact we have to warn drivers, says a lot about driving standards in this country

    9
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    Mute Paul Furey
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    Jan 24th 2021, 4:38 PM

    @Bennett blaster: maybe if we had a good belts of snow 3 or 4 times a year….we would all be experts at driving in these conditions. Once every couple of years doesn’t help with experience.

    15
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