Arctic blast causes travel chaos as temperatures set to drop to -10C this week

The worst snowstorms in years caused travel chaos yesterday – forcing drivers to abandon cars as forecasters warned of even worse weather ahead in the coming days.

The country is set to experience a nationwide freeze-up with temperatures struggling to rise above zero – even during the day, making travel extremely dangerous in some areas.

The worst of the snowfall is expected to be over by today as temperatures are likely to plummet to -8C to -10C tomorrow, which is expected to be the coldest night in some years.

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The public are being warned only to make absolutely essential journeys while some schools are set to remain closed today depending on the local conditions.

A Status Yellow low temperature and ice warning for the entire country is now in place until 12pm on Thursday.

The southwest and the southern midlands were worst hit with many roads blocked because of snow accumulations forcing drivers to abandon their cars.

Scenes in Wicklow as motorists were urged to exercise caution amid the hazardous conditions

Driving conditions in Co Kerry were described as “extremely hazardous” with some roads barely passable due to snow which fell throughout the day yesterday.

A video released by Kerry County Council showed a number of cars abandoned or stuck in snow on the N22 around Clonkeen.

Following a night of severe weather, tens of thousands of homes and businesses were left without power as a result of weather conditions, according to the ESB.

The counties worst hit by the outages were Limerick, Tipperary, Kilkenny, Carlow, Laois and Wicklow.

At one stage an estimated 30,000 people across counties Kerry, Wexford, Kilkenny, Carlow and Limerick had no water because reservoirs were under pressure due the sub-zero temperatures and power outages at pumping stations.

Some locals enjoy the snow
(Image: Domnick Walsh © Eye Focus LTD .)

Uisce Éireann said its crews were working flat out to maintain and restore supplies and urged households, businesses and farmers to check for leaks and turn off water to outside pipes or unoccupied premises.

Bus Éireann services, mostly in western counters, were affected by the bad weather with cancellations of some routes.

Irish Rail also said passengers travelling on services between Cork/Dublin in both directions faced significant delays due to snow/ice impacting operation of level crossings.

Decisions on schools reopening today after the Christmas and New Year are being left to the discretion of individual boards of management.

However, scores of schools in the north Munster and south Leinster areas are expected to be unable to open as school transport will be unable to operate. Throughout yesterday, snow ploughs struggled to keep the main Cork-Limerick road open and were also deployed on the Limerick-Cork road as well as the Cork-Killarney-Tralee road and in parts of north Cork.

Cars were also abandoned on roads in north Clare with the local authority warning that the R474 Ennis to Miltown Malbay Road west of Kilmaley was impassable.

Some of the heaviest snow falls hit Croom in Limerick and Charleville and Kanturk in north Cork.

Abandoned cars in North Clare overnight

Tralee, Co Kerry, was blanketed in snow making it difficult for drivers while farmers in the surrounding countryside struggled to reach their livestock.

Yesterday afternoon, Kerry County Council said traffic between Farranfore and Killarney on the N22 had been restricted to a single lane and would be for “some time”.

Cork County Council staff found themselves in the unusual position of having to deal with blocked roads in the north of the county due to snow while dealing with flooding caused by heavy rain in the south.

It said travelling conditions are expected to continue to be hazardous, even where roads have been gritted and ploughed. In a statement, it said: “The message to drivers is to avoid taking unnecessary journeys.

“If your journey is essential, please slow down, drive with caution, and allow extra time for your journey.

Road conditions were so bad yesterday that Keith Leonard from the Government’s National Coordination Group urged those who do not have to travel to stay at home.

Met Eireann meteorologist Mark Bowe warned the freezing temperatures will last for most of the week ahead causing “treacherous” conditions.

He said: “The road conditions will be quite treacherous widely across the country as we go through into next week.”

Snow falls in the Dunmasc Estate in Portlaoise Co Laois. Photo

The Road Safety Authority has also asked motorists to pay attention to the conditions and weather warnings and urge anyone travelling long distances to check forecasts along their route they intend to take.

Cork Airport remained open although some flights were delayed due to weather conditions at some UK and European airports.

It was the same story at Dublin Airport, where it was business as usual with any delays caused by flights coming in late from the UK.

Much of the northeast escaped the worst of the weather.

Some sporting fixtures were cancelled because of the bad weather but it is also feared that the freezing conditions will cause serious damage to GAA playing fields.

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