Stark warning of further winter disruption
Snowfall of up to 10cm has been forecast in some areas, with gale force winds, heavy rain, flooding, sleet, and plunging temperatures predicted to upset travel plans.
Several flights in and out of Ireland were cancelled, Dart services in Dublin have been axed and bus services in some remote areas and higher ground have been diverted or delayed.
Aer Lingus was forced to cancel at least 16 flights between Ireland and Britain yesterday as heavy snowfall hit airports in London, Bristol, Cardiff, and Bournemouth. Ryanair also cancelled a number of services because of the severe weather.
But if humans are struggling to fly home from Britain because of the weather, birds at least can make the journey.
The cold snap in Britain has a flurry of birds winging their way here — with even species extinct here returning to our shores to warm up.
Two bitterns — which died out in Ireland over 150 years ago — have been spotted in Donegal and Wicklow over the past week.
Thrushes, finches, and curlews have also been flocking to Ireland in large numbers in recent days seeking refuge from the icy conditions across Europe.
It’s not only birds that are taking exception to the cold. A group of lemurs in Britain found a crafty way to cope with the sub-zero temperatures by reaching into a heater cage and turning up the thermostat on their own.
Staff at Tropiquaria Zoo in Watchet, Somerset, were worried how the new group of ring-tailed lemurs might cope with the cold weather but it seems Devine, William, Katrina, Barry, and Julien have actually adapted well.
The lemurs arrived a few weeks before Christmas, when the cold weather first struck, and in the past couple of days they have also discovered a way to climb into the cage so they can drape themselves over the heater.
Judging by the weather forecast, that’s something we will all be doing over the weekend.
