Do not panic. `A helluva lot of heavy snow' in May is natural. That's official

YES, it is true. Snow was general all over Ballaghaderreen yesterday morning. It was falling on every part of the darkened central square and lay thickly on cars and leafy trees. "Ochon," muttered some, believing all the living would soon be with the dead. "Ozone," pronounced others, seeing in it further proof that the only safe place is a well-stocked pub.

Mr Chris Glennon, of MWR radio, said snow was to be found throughout most of the west yesterday morning, but mainly in east Galway, most of Mayo, west Roscommon and south Sligo. Catriona Doherty, of Highland Radio in Donegal, said there had been "a helluva lot of heavy snow showers" there.

AA Road Watch said the snow was bad around Loughrea and Athenry in Co Galway, with heavy frost "everywhere". There had been six accidents in Dublin, the spokeswoman said, though it was dry. But "anti-freeze in May?" She couldn't get used to that.

The man at the Met Office was sanguine, however. "Not unusual," he said. Personally, he could recall May snow in Dublin five or six years ago and during the 80s. It happened "every four or five years", he said. Which must make some wonder where they have been all these years. In summer, hailstones in bad thunderstorms are not unusual, the Met man said. The air becomes inverted, with very warm air being displaced by very cold air and rapidly-dropping temperatures leading to a temporary inversion of the seasons.

That was what happened over the weekend, he said. Very warm air coming almost directly from Africa was replaced by very cold air coming almost directly from the Arctic. In both cases this was unusual, as air streams are generally deflected long before they get here. That is why it was 24 Celsius at Belmullet, Co Mayo, last Friday, and just 8 there yesterday.

But, he added nonchalantly, "one swallow doesn't make a summer", presumably meaning one snow goose doesn't make a winter. However, the cold spell will continue today, and will probably go on to the weekend.