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LAST UPDATE | 11 Dec 2022
SCHOOLS AND PUBLIC transport will continue to operate as normal while icy conditions persist across the country throughout the coming week, according to the government.
The National Emergency Coordination Group convened a meeting today with the Housing Minister Darragh O’Brien to assess the impact of the current cold snap.
Met Éireann and all governmental departments were in attendance to decide what action may need to be taken in relation to the current severe weather.
The National Emergency Coordination Group has just convened with Minister @DarraghOBrienTD
— Office of Emergency Planning (@emergencyIE) December 11, 2022
See @MetEireann for latest weather warnings. For info and advice on winter preparedness, see https://t.co/BDmj1ZG2Nf #BeWinterReady pic.twitter.com/ixuMeAhRi2
Following today’s meeting, a statement from the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage said public transport system continues to operate as normal and that the public are advised to monitor transport providers websites and social media channels for updates.
It also confirmed schools are to remain open as normal this week.
Widespread gritting is to continue, as well as ploughing where necessary, while Local councils have activated their winter maintenance plans.
Speaking after today’s meeting, Minister O’Brien said: “We will continue to monitor the ongoing weather conditions and ensure that all arms of the state are responding speedily and appropriately to meet any challenges.
“I would advise everybody to monitor national and local media, including social media, over the coming days to keep up to date with information regarding the developing weather situation.
“Above all, make sure you stay warm and safe and keep in touch with vulnerable or elderly neighbours.”
He added: “The message to people is that life will go on as normal, everything will remain open, but we just want people to remain careful, especially on the road”.
O’Brien added that emergency plans have been “up and running for the past couple of days” and that he is confident that essential services will be provided.
He also dismissed the likelihood of a Status Red warning and said supply to the energy grid is stable and that he has received a “positive outlook” from EirGrid and Gas Networks Ireland.
Minister O’Brien was also asked about the situation regarding asylum seekers in tented accommodation.
As of Friday, close to 100 international protection applicants were being housed in tented accomodation in Knockalisheen, Co Clare.
In response, Minister O’Brien said: “In relation to the situation with regard to those seeking international protection, including the instance in Clare, those families and those individuals have been moved out and will not be staying in the temporary sheltered accommodation this evening.
“We discussed that at the meeting and alternative accommodation is being sought. They will not be sleeping in the sheltered accommodation this evening or for the rest of the week.”
Forecast
A Status Orange low temperature and ice warning for the entire country will run from 5pm today until 12 noon tomorrow.
The forecaster is warning that a severe frost and further icy stretches will set in tonight, accompanied by patches of freezing fog, with temperatures likely to fall below -5 degrees in many areas.
A Status Yellow low temperature / ice warning has also been extended until 12 noon on Friday, 16 December.
Status Yellow Warning has been extended until Friday 16th December. See @MetEireann for latest warnings and forecasts. See https://t.co/BDmj1ZGACN for:
— Office of Emergency Planning (@emergencyIE) December 11, 2022
❄️Preparing for severe weather
🚘Travel and road safety
👥Community resilience
🏠Keeping your home/business safe https://t.co/LnYkMh7Xos pic.twitter.com/DhkyZiJzqF
Met Éireann said possible impacts include treacherous conditions on paths and roads, travel disruption, potential for burst water pipes and damage to engines, and increased risks to vulnerable members of the community.
A Status Yellow warning for snow was in place until 12 noon today for Dublin, Kildare, and Wicklow, while a similar warning will come into place for Donegal and Mayo tonight.
The Status Yellow ice and snow warning for Donegal and Mayo will run from 11.30pm tonight to 12 noon tomorrow and substantial levels of snow is expected over high ground while snow showers will lead to accumulations in places.
Meanwhile, a Status Yellow ice warning is also in place until 11am this morning in the North in counties Antrim, Armagh, Down, and Derry.
Elsewhere, the winter weather advisory for the country has been extended until 12 noon on Wednesday.
Met Éireann predicts that it will remain very cold into the middle of next week due to an Arctic airmass, bringing sharp to severe frosts, and ice or black ice on roads and footpaths.
Some showers of hail, sleet, and snow will also occur, mainly in coastal counties and freezing fog is likely at times.
Meanwhile, Dublin Airport said this morning that “the first wave of departures has taken off successfully without any delays.”
Airlines have also advised they “expect to operate a normal schedule today with a minimum of cancellations”.
More than 50 flights were cancelled yesterday, while over 140 were cancelled on Friday.
However, Dublin Airport is advising passengers that they “should continue to check the status of their flight with their airline in advance of travel”.
With the extremely cold weather due to continue into the middle of next week, intending passengers should continue to check the status of their flight with their airline in advance of travel. pic.twitter.com/KVsPU5Fy9x
— Dublin Airport (@DublinAirport) December 11, 2022
However, Aer Lingus has warned that it is “experiencing challenges with our London Heathrow operation due to freezing fod conditions there”.
As a result, some London Heathrow services have been cancelled and those travelling to Heathrow are advised to expect delays.
All Aer Lingus customers have been advised to check the status of their flight before travelling to the airport.
— Aer Lingus (@AerLingus) December 11, 2022
The Road Safety Authority (RSA) has advised motorists to keep abreast of local and national weather forecasts before setting out on a journey.
Motorists should carry a screen scraper and de-icer to clear their windows and mirrors before undertaking any travel.
However, hot water should not be applied to the windscreen as it can crack the glass, the RSA said.
Freezing fog and black ice advice
It offered the following advice for fog and freezing fog conditions expected over the coming days:
The RSA has also offered this advice for black ice:
Additional reporting by Eoghan Dalton
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Probably tell us its cold!
@Dave Barrett: agreed. National emergency?? Gimme a break!!
@Dave Barrett: Classic ploy by this governemnt—they will talk all day about things they can do little about while refusing to talk about things they have the power to tackle, such as the housing crisis.
@Jim O’Sullivan: Well good thing for one is schools staying open and public transport running. Also salting of secondary roads. Someone with some bit of sense in the emergency team. Watch out for elderly neighbours.
@Jim O’Sullivan: They’re (FFG) acting as if the Homelessness crisis has nothing to do with them now.
Maybe if they talk for long enough, the hot air will cause a thaw?
Irish Government using all possible issues / distractions to deflect attention away from inflation ( which is REALLY over twice the CPI ) , aconmodation crisis etc …was this cold snap not predicted or forecast ? Why is it such a shock ? We need to be careful of Government manipulation of media and public gaze which they attempt to do on an ongoing basis . This kind of weather event is normal and caused little reaction until the 21st Century where everything is now ” a disaster” .
@Mike Benning: Planning for a status orange weather warning is a distraction from inflation? Seriously..if you think you’re being manipulated through the media I would suggest putting the phone away and taking up a relaxing hobby
How’s about starting with gritting the roads and paths !!! They knew about this last week and Friday was treacherous driving to work.
Birr is Offaly cold at the best of times.
Just make it a red warning and I can’t go to work then.
So glad this group has stepped up. Here’s hoping they get well paid to state the blindingly obvious.
I wonder would Eamonn Ryan mind if we turn the heating on. Wrapping my hands around the mug of tea isn’t working.
@Keith Fahy: and those John Gormley bulbs are useless for giving out heat I tried wrapping my hand around one nah useless
Schools will be advised to close….
@RJ: if it’s too dangerous to transport young children, then rightly so
@Declan Edward: yes but the days should be added back into system and added on by shortening a mid term or back a day early after christmas
@RJ: just saw on RTÉ that schools are to remain open
@RJ: no they haven’t been advised to close. They’ll have to travel in the danger.
@Garreth mc mahon: no they should not. That impacts on those of us not living with our children. A proper public transport & infrastructure would be far better than reducing children’s holidays.
@Allora: exactly the people which say they should be added back on never got a snow day in their live……. d!#£ heads
@Jim Casey: and now never will given our new found expertise in online education!
@Sandra Molloy: exactly
@Jim Casey: eh this di@€head lives in rural monaghan and when it snows I go fo work in Navan and my kids have to get a bus to go to school and the schools close with bad road conditions which I understand,i doubt most parents who dont live with there kids take them every single day and i mean every single day they are not in school, how long is a school year, 160-180 depending on age, easily able to add on a day here on there, we have one of the shortest school years in Europe so surely its easy to get a day back here or there
@Garreth mc mahon: for one so informed you seem ignorant to the fact that teaching will not be suspended but go on line as it has been obliged to do since 2020
@Conor Flood: not when your rural with no broadband
@Garreth mc mahon: I suggest you direct your frustration at those responsible for this not those who work within the school system .
@Garreth mc mahon: nah
@Conor Flood: lets be honest, those within education don’t want change.
It’s pathetic that Ireland panics and the world has to stop, I’m here in Austria and it’s snow, frost, fog and cold and the world keeps moving moving. Ireland really are behind in everything, just put together committees to tell us what we already know.
@Sean Collins: https://www.accuweather.com/en/at/vienna/31868/morning-weather-forecast/31868 There is a yellow warning in operation this morning in Austria for ‘extremely low’ temperatures at – 4degC. Met Eireann has pisted temperatures of – 6degC in West Cork this morning.
@sean o’dhubhghaill: *posted. But ‘pisted’ is rather good!
@Sean Collins: I’m here too, the place comes alive with the cold weather. Not a bother to them.
@Sean Collins: in fairness, the Austrians are fully geared for Winter weather and prolonged snow and the bulk of their winter activities and tourism is centred around it. Ireland doesn’t get enough weather like this to build and entire infrastructure around it and if they did and we didn’t get the expected cold conditions you’d be on here moaning about water money and comparing it to the Children’s Hospital!
@Barry Evans: *wasted money
@Sean Collins: I spent four winters in Iceland. Business as usual,and people didn’t moan about the weather all the time.
@Sean Collins: We are still backward in respect of managing cold spells.
@Sean Collins: the A21 ring around Vienna often closes because of heavy snow and the there is restrictions around trucks driving by night in Austria so that’s probably a reason. That being said they are well equipped but their police force are a bunch of numpties. Out on the road looking for money everyday. Great country. I love driving there but the police & laws are horrendous.
@Barry Evans: stop talking sense ffs this is the journal
Organise a whip-around to buy some de-icer for Dublin Airport.
Its a national emergency because there’s a sprinkling of snow around Dublin. The rest of us are getting on with it.
@Stephen Deegan: We all get on with it, most of us like to be prepared though. Tomorrow you’ll be complaining about roads not being gritted, because there’s no need to be prepared huh ??
@C.J Captain: I won’t be complaining, CJ. The roads are normally gritted by the local council to an excellent standard. Where I’m living, we’re normally prepared for cold weather around the place though, it being winter and all.
If an emergency meeting is what’s needed to give a tough enough recommendation to the government to cop on and get refugees out of tents in limerick or homeless into heated shelters than I’m all for it
Put on another jumper
Why is this “Group” not meeting every day of the week until the housing crisis is solved?
Time to go on tv with a daily temperature chart
The poor teachers probably thought they’d get a few days off to go shopping in Dundrum or squeeze in a night away in Dublin. The rest of us just carry on and make adjustments to our lives and have a plan in place
@Hugh Mc Donnell: stain of a comment stain of an individual
@Hugh Mc Donnell: a teacher couldn’t afford a night away in Dublin!!
@Elaine Malone: Between 50k and 60k a year and they couldn’t afford a night…???
@Redseat92: Mortgage, childcare, mortgage / life / health insurance, credit union loan, gas / electric / waste / House insurance / wifi / property tax / TV licence / TV subscription, car tax, insurance, fuel costs, food, medicines…… a bells and whistles night out would be lovely but after all these a take away and a bottle of wine is the height of it. I’d imagine there are a lot of people on that payscale who can relate.
@Fi Wyse: no one is falling for that! 50K min and upwards! Grand wages
@Fi Wyse: lots of us paying similar bills on alot less
@Hugh Mc Donnell: what did we do here to deserve that comment? Not a word said from us!!!
@Stiofán Ó Cearnaigh: Whats there to fall for, it’s factual information. Grand wages yes but they don’t go as far as it used too. Its this little thing called inflation. And I’m not a teacher.
Grit the footpaths too please!
Some years back I was sent on a trip to Chicago, in November. I asked the person I was to visit about the weather, he said it wasn’t too bad only about -5. There was just one catch, being American he was talking FAHRENHEIT so his idea of not too bad we would call -20, I dread to think what sort of warnings that would generate here. But you know what, it wasn’t too bad.
This is NOT extreme cold.
@Steve O’Hara-Smith: It isn’t on an absolute scale, but – 6degC in West Cork is worthy of note!
@Steve O’Hara-Smith: been to Montreal in the middle of winter, -37c with wind chill. They just got on with things. Public transport, flights, schools all operated as normal.
@sean o’dhubhghaill: In Alaska they call that warm.
Its a beautiful morning in the sunny South East, not a sign of frost here , someone got it very wrong
@Bernie Byrne Hennessy: Not true for all areas, , heavy frost where I live in Sunny South east. Sunny but cold.
@Bernie Byrne Hennessy: I’m in Enniscorthy and the place is frozen solid.
@Bernie Byrne Hennessy: also in the south east (Rosslare) and it’s very frosty where I am. Car needed de-icing!
@Bernie Byrne Hennessy: I’m in the SSE (Tagoat) and the grass is only thawing a bit now. Where are you with no frost???
@Sean Ryan: I’m here in Wexford town I don’t know what I did wrong but the reception indoors with the mrs is frosty this morning. It’s probably warmer outside.
@Mel Fitzpatrick: looks like we got the best of the weather here
@Stephen Kelly: in sth kilkenny here
@Bernie Byrne Hennessy: warning is for this evening until noon tomorrow. Not this morning.
@Aine O Connor: yeah heavy frost for sure ! Surely in your life you have seen frost in December. All this hysteria is crazy
Surely a Zoom meeting would have sufficed in such treacherous conditions
Freezing cold? You were lucky! In my day we couldn’t afford to be cold.
@Keth Warsaw: Cold….twas a luxury just fa Christmas.
Christmas? You were lucky! We couldn’t afford Christmas. We had to denounce Christianity. The generation taday don’t know tha born. Sleeping in a barn surrounded by animals….an freezin’ cold?
Luxury! We shoulda bin so lucky.
Will insurance cover school busses in status orange ? In school environments will schools be covered? I presume so.
The 70k + Ukrainian people that arrived here thinking are they having a laugh or what?
@Will Roche: why? They’re not too hardy are they?
They should close the schools as its very dangerous for bus journeys..I’m sure the teachers wouldn’t mind working the extra week in the summer time to make up for it.
@Redseat92: That can’t happen. It would push the LC back a week, with all sorts of implications.
Some amount of people at that meeting table all to tell us about the weather
Warnings for the past week and the paths are lethal, KCC get the finger out.
Its -20 here in Norway with wind chill and as the Norwegians say there’s no bad weather only bad clothes
@Northpole-paddy: that’s great, but we’re in Ireland, talking about Irish winter conditions, about Irish infrastructure and the winter temperatures people are used to in Ireland. Not Norway, …or Austria…or Iceland etc. (As mentioned by others)
No snow, unfortunately.
Relax lads..
Not a peep out of the pro government Journal about the 100+ refugees being housed in tents in knockalisheen Clare in freezing weather conditions.
@Pádraig Ó hAirtnéada: ratee had it on the news, rte the biggest government mouthpiece going
Schools open, helicopter options only for some
Totally missed reporting on the snowfall and panicking now. Doesn’t seem half as bad as they are reporting.
National School buses not running in North Sligo this morning.
have your say