Hotels open doors to powerless locals as bitter cold tightens grip
Snow covered countryside entering Ballyvourney (Baile Bhuirne) in Cork .
A status orange low temperature and ice warning is now in effect until 11am Thursday for most of the country, as persistent ice and snow continue to disrupt travel and power supplies.
Temperatures plunged to -6C overnight, with the coldest readings recorded in Mullingar, Co Westmeath (-6.1C), Dublin's Casement Aerodrome (-5.8C), and Gurteen, Co Tipperary (-5.7C).
Met Éireann warns that daytime temperatures "will struggle to rise above zero in many areas," with "widespread sharp frost, icy stretches and lying snow" persisting through the week.
A status yellow warning will remain nationwide until midday Friday.
Freezing conditions are causing hazardous travel and service disruptions.
Around 2,000 homes and businesses remain without power, mainly in Cork, Limerick, and Tipperary.
ESB Networks has arranged facilities in local hotels where affected customers can recharge phones, eat hot meals, and refresh.
Facilities will be available at the following hotels on both days:
- Longcourt Hotel in Newcastlewest, Co Limerick from 12pm to 8pm;
- Leens Hotel in Abbeyfeale, Co Limerick from 12pm to 6pm;
- Charleville Park Hotel in Charleville, Co Cork from 12pm to 6pm;
- Horse and Jockey Hotel in Thurles, Co Tipperary from 12pm to 6pm.
Customers must provide their MPRN number to access these services, however, the ESB has reminded customers to only travel “if safe to do so.”
Meanwhile efforts to get power to the worst impacted areas of Munster are continuing.
Water outages have also improved, with 4,500 customers currently affected, down from over 40,000 on Monday.
Cork Simon says the communal space floor in its emergency shelter is filled with mattresses.
Local authorities are urging people to "take extereme care" as they continue clearing roads and ensuring safety.
A Cork County Council spokesperson told the that conditions "remain extremely challenging" along many routes in north-west and north Cork, and though its priority routes are being treated, widespread icy patches remain in these areas.
- In Cork, icy patches persist in north-west and north Cork, with diversions in place on the R585 and other local roads;
- The R579 Banteer to Nadd and the Newmarket to Rockchapel roads, which were impassable, have now been cleared;
- Kerry’s higher roads remain covered with significant snow, and black ice affects many secondary routes;
- Conditions in Limerick are described as “treacherous,” with crews working on gritting rural roads and urban footpaths;
- The Council said its crews are working to make roads driveable in Tournafulla, Mountcollins, Carrigkerry, Glin, and Abbeyfeale.
Conditions remain extremely challenging on many routes in north-west and north Cork where lying snow continues to be an issue.
Council crews are continuing to treat priority routes, however, due to the low temperatures, widespread icy patches can be expected even on treated roads.
Authorities urge people to avoid unnecessary journeys and take extreme care if travel is unavoidable.
The HSE has cancelled non-urgent outpatient and clinical appointments in Kerry until Thursday due to dangerous conditions.
Urgent services, including dialysis and chemotherapy, are continuing, and Cork city hospitals remain operational with safety precautions.
Antenatal, endoscopy, and oncology day services will continue, but updates will be provided if changes are necessary.
Non-urgent appointments at Bantry and Mallow General Hospitals in Cork are cancelled today.
Cork City hospitals, including CUH, The Mercy and South Infirmary-Victoria, remain open, but patients are advised to travel only if safe.
Appointments scheduled for Thursday in Cork city hospitals (Cork University Hospital, Mercy University Hospital and the South Infirmary – Victoria University Hospital) will go ahead as planned. However, patients are advised not to travel to the city unless it is absolutely safe to do so.
Appointments will also go ahead on Thursday at community facilities around the city, East Cork and South Cork.
However, if you are unable to attend a hospital or community appointment, please contact the local team and you will be offered a new appointment as soon as possible. You will not lose your appointment, so please stay safe at home if travel is risky.
Endoscopy services at Bantry Hospital will be cancelled on Thursday, with out-patient services operational in the afternoon. Patients will be contacted if there are any cancellations.
Appointments at community facilities in North Cork will also be affected.
Some appointments have also been cancelled at Cork University Maternity Hospital. Patients have been contacted directly. All non-urgent gynaecological appointments at the Lee Clinic are cancelled tomorrow also.
Schools in parts of Munster and the Midlands remain closed, and some school transport services are suspended.
Local school management authorities are making decisions on closures based on conditions.
Disrupted An Post is attempting deliveries "wherever it is safe to do so," but icy roads have made some routes in Tipperary, Kilkenny, North Kerry, Limerick, and Waterford inaccessible.
Most post offices are open but operating on reduced hours in affected areas.
Met Éireann forecasters warn of further drops in temperature tonight and Thursday night, potentially falling as low as -8C in some areas.
Deputy Head of Forecasting Liz Coleman noted that conditions will remain hazardous, with no significant snow melt expected.
"Given there has been a lot of snow over the weekend, as well as rain which has now frozen, there will be really dangerous conditions on the roads," she said.
"The icy conditions will be particularly impactful for some road users, such as cyclists and motorcyclists, so alternative travel should be considered if possible."
Meanwhile, the National Emergency Co-ordination Group (NECG) met again on Wednesday morning to discuss the disruption caused by the ongoing cold weather.
Keith Leonard, national director of fire and emergency management, emphasised public safety, saying “road and path surfaces will remain challenging throughout the country".
Mr Leonard added: "Even where there is no lying snow, icy conditions will prevail, and surfaces may look deceptively safe.”
Local authorities and emergency teams are continuing their efforts to manage the severe weather, clearing roads, salting footpaths, and monitoring conditions.
Check out the Irish Examiner's WEATHER CENTRE for regularly updated short and long range forecasts wherever you are.
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