Winter weather makes its icy debut
Northern and eastern regions were worst affected with snowfalls closing roads in places and gardaí warning of treacherous driving conditions on other routes.
The cold snap began on Tuesday night when temperatures dropped to -3C in the midlands and parts of the east, leaving conditions perfect for rain to turn to snow yesterday morning.
Counties Cavan, Meath, Wicklow and Donegal were worst hit, with several feet of snow quickly piling up in places before later turning to sleet and then to prolonged and heavy rain.
Met Éireann recorded temperatures on the west coast some 10 degrees higher than on the east although the variations narrowed by the end of the day.
While children on mid-term break from school enjoyed the early tussle with snowball fights and hill slides, a group of tourists saw rather more of the weather than they had bargained for after their sightseeing bus became stranded on the Sally Gap in Co Wicklow.
Geraldine Fitzgerald of the Glencree Peace and Reconciliation Centre said about 30 people of mixed nationalities had to take refuge in the centre after their bus got stuck on the narrow mountainy route.
“From what we gather it couldn’t go any further and it couldn’t turn around with all of them in it so a local man with a 4x4 went up and down doing runs to collect them and brought them here three and four at a time.
“They were fine but they were very cold, so they were just glad to get a cup of tea. The driver managed to get the bus back down the hill for them after a while.”
Most of the snow had disappeared by the evening and no further falls are expected any time soon but Met Éireann is forecasting continued cold weather for the next few days with daytime temperatures unlikely to get above 8C or 9C and nights considerably colder.
Some showers are also expected, falling as hail at times, so roads may be icy and in dry spells there will be sharp frosts and fog so AA Roadwatch are advising motorists to take extra care.
The snow’s appearance prompted bookies to start offering odds on a white Christmas. The requisite inch of snow as measured by Met Éireann officials at Dublin Airport on December 25 will reap rewards from Boylesports at odds of 5/1 while Paddy Power are offering 4/1 on a single snowflake falling in Dublin on the day.
