More sleet and heavy snow on way for year's end

THE YEAR is set for a chilly end with driving rain and sleet sweeping across the country and heavy falls of snow in higher areas, according to Met Éireann.

New Year’s Eve will see further showers of sleet and snow in many areas and the cold snap is set to continue in January, the forecasters say.

In many parts of the country, Christmas week turned white for the second time yesterday as a front moving northwards left snow on higher ground. Blizzard conditions were expected on high mountains, many of which are already under snow.

The rest of the country was pasted with rain and sleet and similar conditions are forecast for today. Up to 30mm of rain was forecast in parts of the south and southeast.

However, the rain brought some respite for motorists, with a slight thaw reported yesterday across affected areas. Main roads were reported safe, but some secondary roads remained icy, especially in the midlands and west.

Gardaí advised motorists in Co Wicklow to avoid Sally Gap, Glenmalure and Aughavannagh, while heavy snowfalls was reported to be affecting driving conditions on the main Dingle to Tralee road.

As snow enveloped the west yesterday evening, local authorities in Galway and Mayo insisted they had sufficient grit to treat national and major regional roads. Gardaí in the region warned motorists not to travel unless it was essential.

Gerry Murphy of the Met Office described the weather situation as messy, with rain and sleet expected in most areas overnight and today. Snow would fall mainly on hills and mountains, but was also possible at lower levels, he said.

The midlands and the west stand the greatest risk of snow, while south Leinster and Munster are expected to suffer the heaviest rainfall. Temperatures will hover slightly above zero degrees in most areas, but should be slightly warmer in the south.

While the rain and snow is expected to clear tonight to the southwest, it will remain cold and temperatures tomorrow will range between zero and 4 degrees. New Year’s Eve will be dry, apart from scattered heavy sleet or snow showers in the east and southeast.

Revellers ringing in the new year outdoors should prepare for a hard frost and icy conditions, with temperatures dropping to -5 degrees, and New Year’s Day will be bracingly cold with showers of hail, sleet and snow, especially in the north and west.

Galway City Council denied reports that it had run out of grit, while Galway County Council said it had sufficient supplies, but pointed out that salt was being rationed by suppliers.

A city council spokesman said that crew was sanding main roads and the city centre area. The local authority was “aware” of difficulties in relation to pavements, and roads into and around housing estates. “There is a limit to what one crew could do,” he said.

Galway County Council director of services Frank Gilmore said that cutbacks were not affecting gritting. “We have more than adequate supplies of grit,” Mr Gilmore said. “Salt has been rationed by suppliers, but we are using a combination to ensure we have sufficient quantities.”

Mayo County Council said its overtime budget had been cut, but “we have to pay overtime to get the gritting done”.

Galway and Mayo local authorities have appealed to residents not to run taps unnecessarily. A pressure drop in Galway mid-county caused a water shortage in some areas this week. The local authority believes this may be due to householders fearing that their pipes will freeze if they do not keep water running.

The mid-county water scheme is still subject to a boil water notice, following contamination during the recent flooding.

The Irish Coast Guard yesterday warned the public about the danger of being swept off cliffs, rocks, piers, harbour walls and beaches. It pointed out that the winter was particularly dangerous with high tides, floods, gale-force winds and big waves.

Last year, almost 170 people needed help from the Coast Guard while walking on cliff paths or engaged in other coastline activities.

Coastal warning:Coast Guard urges caution amid dangerous conditions