Up to 8cm of snow falling over the weekend paired with lows of -8°C Sunday night meant that Ireland woke up to a blank sheet of ice this morning.
Much of the country is affected, with a Status Orange low-temperature warning for all of Ireland issued over the weekend by Met Éireann lasting until 10am Monday morning.
Some minimum temperatures from our stations around the country last night:
Casement (Dublin) -6.6°C
Gurteen (Tipp) -6.3°C
Mullingar -5.3°C
Mt.Dillon (Roscommon) -5.1°C
Markree (Sligo) -4.6°C
Athenry -3.3°C
Cork Airport -2.0°C
Belmullet 0.7°C
Malin Head 2.1°C#Sneachta #Snow pic.twitter.com/CIuGVmAfwQ— Met Éireann (@MetEireann) December 11, 2017
The icy weather resulted in a number of flights being cancelled over the weekend, as well as several more flights cancelled between Ireland, the UK and continental Europe today.
Operations at neither Dublin nor Cork airports were affected by the wintry weather, but a knock-on effect from some UK airports must be taken into consideration. Four flights travelling this morning from Dublin to Heathrow have been cancelled, while two flights travelling Cork to Heathrow flights have also been cancelled.
However, according to both Aer Lingus and Ryanair’s websites, all UK flights are currently operating as scheduled.
It’s also been reported that a number of short-haul BA flights have been cancelled from Heathrow.
A number of flights to/from Britain and Northern Europe have been cancelled as a result of weather conditions. Please check flight status before travelling to the airport – on our app or at https://t.co/0NhKl9BCz7
— Aer Lingus (@AerLingus) December 10, 2017
As far as roads are concerned, an AA spokesman said that while the issue for motorists today is ice, it’s especially lethal black ice that should be considered while driving today. Black ice forms once a layer of ice thaws and re-freezes, leaving a sleek surface that is difficult to see.
According to the traffic and travel broadcaster, the worst affected areas appear to be Roscommon, Sligo, Donegal, Cavan and eastern Connacht.
#Mayo Icy conditions are worst in the areas of Swinford, Foxford and Crossmolina. https://t.co/PSzIBsvOzE
— The AA Ireland (@aaroadwatch) December 11, 2017
In Connacht, icy conditions have been reported across eastern Galway, especially Ballinasloe and Barna.
It’s very icy around Carrick-on-Shannon in Leitrim and in the Ballymote area of Sligo.
In Mayo, there are reports of poor conditions in the Claremorris, Swinford and Foxford areas of the county. It’s also very icy around Roscommon Town, particularly on secondary routes.
As for Ulster – in Monaghan, there are slippery road conditions around Carrickmacross, especially on the Ballybay Rd (R180) between there and Laragh.
In Donegal, road conditions are icy around Letterkenny Town, and on secondary routes from between Letterkenny and Inishowen and Rathmullan. It’s still icy on some routes in Buncrana, especially around Clonblosk.
In Munster, it’s very icy on routes around Limerick City. Gardai in Waterford are reporting very icy conditions on the Lismore/Ballyduff Rd (R666) Extreme caution advised.
In Cork, conditions are icy in the Mallow area, especially on the New Twopothouse/Doneraile Rd (R581) near Hazelwood. Take extreme caution. Road conditions are very icy too the Midleton area and around Béal na Bláth.
In Kerry, Gardaí advise that roads around the Barraduff area are icy this morning. Gardaí in Clare advise that roads are icy in Ennis.
And as for Leinster – in Laois, road conditions in the Abbeyleix area still very icy this morning.
In Wicklow, Gardaí advise motorists to avoid the Sally Gap due to poor road conditions. Conditions are also snowy around Glendalough, with extreme caution advised.
In Westmeath, the Main Street through Athlone (R446) is slippy due to icy conditions. It’s improving slowly around Mullingar but it’s still icy. Icy conditions reported too on the road from Mullingar/Ballymahon (R392). In Offaly, road conditions are particularly icy in the Birr area.
In Meath, areas affected by icy road conditions include Kells, Oldcastle, Crossakiel and Navan. There are also slippery road conditions around Kilkenny City.
In Kilkenny, particularly icy on the Old Dublin Rd (R448) between Thomastown and Gowran.
AA Roadwatch issued a warning to road-users Monday morning:
”Very few parts of the country have escaped the poor conditions after the Status Orange Low Temperature Warning from Met Éireann this morning.
Allow plenty of extra time for your journey.
If you’re driving in such conditions, slow down and make sure your dipped headlights are on. Remember it can take up to ten times longer to stop your vehicle on icy roads, so leave extra space between your vehicle and the one in front.”
For more updates, check out the AA Roadwatch Newsroom.
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