Ireland woke to a rare carpet of snow after Storm Fionn swept across the island and weather warning remain in place, with high winds and low temperatures throughout the day.
Only a fortnight after Storm Eleanor left some 50,000 people in the Republic without power, some are suffering déjà vu after 2,000 homes in Cavan and Monaghan awoke to find they couldn’t turn on the lights or boil a kettle.
As of Wednesday morning Ireland meteorological experts have issued further warns of high winds and low temperatures through out the day. Temperatures will drop as low as 32F (0C) and the storm will continue to batter Ireland with rain, sleet, snow, high winds and flooding today.
A yellow wind warning for Munster, Leinster and Galway will become valid at 6pm today with gusts of up to 110km/h expected along with a risk of coastal flooding. And a yellow weather advisory notice for Donegal, Galway, Leitrim, Mayo, Sligo, Clare, Cork, Kerry and Limerick has been ongoing since Monday afternoon, warning of high seas on the Atlantic seaboard. A Status Orange marine gale warning was put in place this morning at 5.30am.
After an amber weather warning from the UK Met Office on Tuesday night, it was announced that 280 schools in Northern Ireland would close - meaning a special day of fun for thousands of children living in the province.
Just had to abandon my car at bottom of Newton Park as couldn’t get up the hill whilst watching three collisions on the way down. AVOID #Snow #belfast #belfastsnow pic.twitter.com/kAtfuEaNAT
— Sinead Doyle (@SineadDoyle) January 16, 2018
The Department of Infrastructure in Belfast said it had preemptively salted roads overnight and that snow ploughs would help clear the busier roads.
Lots of roads blocked with abandoned cars because of heavy snow and ice in #Belfast this morning + some dude sitting at side of the road in sunglasses and shorts 😨 pic.twitter.com/TXLHr94mmw
— Epic VR Channel (@bigpotplant) January 17, 2018
Flights in and out of Derry and Belfast experienced some delays but none were cancelled - unlike the ferry service between Rathlin Island and Ballycastle in mainland County Antrim.
Heavy snow fall across parts of the #Northernsound region this morning. #Cavan #Monaghan #Corcaghan. Particularly on high ground.. Care advised on all routes @aaroadwatch pic.twitter.com/8Si0UzqDvm
— Sean Mc Caffrey (@BreakfastRollNS) January 16, 2018
In the Republic, the counties of Monaghan, Cavan, Westmeath, Meath, Laois, Wexford and Wicklow are the worst affected by the snowy weather and Met Éireann issued a yellow wind warning for County Galway, Munster and Leinster. Gusts of wind reached 70mph overnight and yet again there has been some flooding along the western seaboard.
#snow #Wicklow #SnowStorm #Ireland ❄️❄️❄️ pic.twitter.com/XyrFmn8H1Y
— ميـس✨ (@MayoosHm) January 16, 2018
Sally Gap Road and Old Military Road have been closed in Wicklow and and on Donegal’s Inishowen peninsula the blade of a wind turbine has been found to be damaged.
Sleet & #sneachta making driving conditions difficult, traffic delays too. Brake gently, steer gently, use high gears #snow #Dublin 📸 Stepaside pic.twitter.com/mh9ovBG0qL
— Dublin Fire Brigade (@DubFireBrigade) January 16, 2018
A spokesperson for Met Éireann said, “This morning there will be sunny spells and scattered showers, some may be of sleet in the north and east or snow on higher ground.
“Fresh to strong and gusty westerly winds will gradually moderate through the day. Later this afternoon heavy and persistent rain will push into Atlantic coastal counties in a strengthening south to southwest wind and winds will increase again gale force along southwest coasts later.
“The rain will spread further inland during the evening and possibly turn to sleet or snow over Ulster and north Leinster. Cold with afternoon temperatures of just 3 to 7 degrees [37 to 45 fahrenheit].”
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