PARTS OF Ulster and Connacht have recorded more than 20cm (8 inches) of snow over the last week in one of the coldest pre-Christmas periods in decades, Met Éireann has said.
Another 5 to 10cm of snow fell yesterday in Counties Donegal, Sligo, Leitrim, Cavan and Monaghan. There were also falls of snow in the mid-west, where temperatures are not expected to rise above freezing today.
Sixty schools in Donegal alone closed yesterday, and hundreds around the country did not open because of treacherous road conditions.
The ongoing freezing temperatures have largely precluded a thaw, and many places that have been worst affected by the bad weather will still see snow on the ground on Christmas Day.
While snow is a problem in the west and north, all parts of the country have been experiencing freezing fog and ice.
Conditions are reported as being particularly bad on the new stretch of the M6 in Galway which was opened last week.
Icy road conditions have been reported on the N7 between Toomyvara and Roscrea, around Shannon, Killaloe, Sixmilebridge and Newmarket-on-Fergus, and on the N18 Ennis to Galway road.
Parts of the midlands and mid-west will see freezing fog persist, as daytime temperatures are not expected to rise above zero today.
There is a chance of sleet and snow showers in the south-east and east tonight. They have escaped the worst of the winter weather so far.
Tonight will see temperatures as low as -8C in Connacht, while sub-zero temperatures will be experienced everywhere.
The National Roads Authority (NRA) has advised motorists to stick to primary routes where possible. It has details of 52 major routes on its website, almost all of which have been gritted.
NRA spokesman Sean O’Neill said: “Ireland has the biggest network of secondary routes in Europe, but motorists should not take short cuts and should use them as little as possible.”
The AA is reporting an increase in demand of between 20 per cent and 30 per cent in calls to its rescue service, but most of them have been for flat batteries.
AA public affairs manager Conor Faughnan said motorists seemed to have been paying heed to the warnings to slow down and avoid unnecessary journeys, as so far there had been no major reported incidents which had been due to the weather.
He urged motorists to remember that braking distances on ice and snow are between five and 10 times those under normal driving conditions.
Difficult driving conditions in Co Kerry caused the cancellation yesterday of several local bus services.
Flights have been operating with short delays out of all the major airports. Aer Lingus and Ryanair reported one flight cancellation each yesterday.
Ryanair said it completed 95 per cent of its 1,300 scheduled flights around Europe yesterday and was forced to cancel 70 because of snow and fog.
It intends to operate a full schedule of flights today and tomorrow, though there could be delays into London airports because of the bad weather.
Aine Brady, Minister for Older People, urged the elderly to take extra care during the cold spell and to keep at least one room in their house heated. “It is possible to conserve energy and eliminate draughts by keeping internal doors closed to keep heat in the living area, and by draught-proofing external doors and windows.” She advised neighbours to check on their elderly relatives.
The forecast is for temperatures to rise on Christmas Day, with a return to milder conditions.
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