Here is the winter weather forecast
Long-range forecaster James Madden from Exacta Weather correctly predicted harsh conditions experienced over the last two years. He believes that we are in for record-breaking snowfalls and freezing temperatures during November, December and January.
“Periods of low solar activity have influenced the Earth’s atmosphere by allowing the stratosphere to cool,” he says. “This has a more profound effect over Northern Europe and the UK, in terms of colder and snowier winters, as changing jet stream patterns block warm air from reaching us, and create more moisture.”
It seems that low solar activity — something we have become all too familiar with this summer — is a leading culprit and produces extra cloud cover, which reflects sunlight and has a cooling influence on the earth.
We have lived happily under the benign influence of the Gulf Stream, the large volume of heated water which has brought us warmth and a mild atmosphere, but which has drastically altered over the last few years. “The Gulf Stream softens the climate we experience, considering the latitude we lie on,” Mallon says. “For example, Newfoundland, who are on a similar latitude, experience much harsher winters, as they don’t benefit from this valuable heat source.
“Dust and ash particles from recent volcanic eruptions in Iceland and Chile have also played their part in these recent severe conditions. Converted sulphur dioxide emissions from eruptions also cause sunlight reflection in the atmosphere.
“I fully expect to see records broken, with the highlands of Scotland once again being particularly hard hit. It is vital to start preparing now in terms of high energy bills and raising awareness amongst the most vulnerable and older persons in our society,” he warns.
I’m all for advance planning. But, cash-strapped as most of us are, I can’t see how we can do anything much to prepare for high energy bills as James Madden suggests, apart from steeling ourselves against the heavy thud created by the next bill as it drops through the mailbox, and perhaps having a drop of brandy on hand.
But there is some good news. The powers-that-be have already taken a far more pro-active approach to this run of arctic winters. For example, construction of a new salt barn for the western division of Cork County Council will begin before the end of October, according to Fianna Fáil county councillor Christopher O’Sullivan. The NRA has made funding available for the construction of two salt barns. Skibbereen is also earmarked as the storage area for two newly acquired snowplough-cum-salting machines; another is planned for Ballincollig. “Thankfully, the council have been proactive since last winter in looking for solutions,” says Cllr O’Sullivan.
But perhaps the best news for those of us who live in remoter areas is that community and farming groups, including the IFA and ICMSA, will finally be allowed to take an active part in keeping the back roads passable.
Within each area engineer’s division there are areas where salt will be available, and grit deposited in five strategic spots.
All of which is music to the ears of many of us. Marooned by arctic conditions, or risking life and limb to get to the village on roads which had turned to perma frost, we had to endure the frustration of knowing that Kerry residents just over the border were busily gritting their byways from the piles of material left out for them.
Apparently, we couldn’t be similarly pro-active because of an insurance issue that the people in Kerry obviously got around.
We weren’t allowed to help themselves, and were told to sit it out until the cavalry finally arrived.
A friend of mine — who shall remain nameless — got so frustrated that he took to sneaking out in the dead of night with a bucket of ashes from the fire and scattering them over a particularly lethal bend near his house.
Noel Harrington, TD, helped to get the road to our village gritted after several weeks of accumulated ice and snow. I decided to have a word with him about a much-needed information initiative. For instance, who knew before now that the distributor caps on the top of gas bottles could freeze, and should be warmly lagged? Like many others, I learned this the hard way.
And who amongst us had ever heard of the hand brake freezing in a car? I found my hand brake was frozen solid. “Not a bother”, said a neighbour originally from the Scottish Highlands, “Just tread hard on the accelerator and the handbrake would unlock”. He’s a hardy type who tends to scoff as such wimpish concerns as a temperature hovering below minus 10. I followed his advice, hit a patch of ice, and ended up in a ditch.
“There has been a major policy change regarding the preparations for winter. I think it was hard for any of us to take on board just how severe the weather had become, at first,” said Noel Harrington, TD. “We thought it was just some sort of freak occurrence that would only last for a few days.
“But although we can’t be sure that the severe weather warnings that have already been issued will come to pass, and we hope they don’t, if the weather does turn bad, we will be a lot better prepared. Council lorries have been equipped with salt spreaders, and extra supplies of grit and salt have already been ordered from abroad.”
Which is all great news. But what about a more practical and basic information leaflet that could be sent to those who might well find themselves marooned for several days at a time?
“I think that could be very useful,” Noel said. “There’s a lot of basic information that people could find very useful, which could help them through severe weather conditions. It’s something I’m going to be looking into.”
If you do have to venture out onto icy roads, your car needs to be as ready as you are for the challenge, and the right tyres for the prevailing conditions are vital. Sean Casey of Bantry Tyres is ahead of the game. He ordered a large shipment of winter tyres from his suppliers as long ago as last March, and says that they are in great demand across Europe.
“There are socks you can put over your tyres, snow tyres and all-weather tyres, but I would recommend winter tyres. They are your best bet for the conditions we’ve experienced for the last two winters.” But four of these tyres are needed. They can be fitted in November, taken off at the end of winter. and used again if needed next year.
Be prepared. Who knows, all these preparations might, in some mysterious fashion, ensure that this winter will be a blissfully uneventful one.
