Cork County Council Status Orange Weather Warning – Update 18:00 Hours Sunday 5th January

A Orange weather warning signifying hazardous weather conditions forecasted

Cork County Council is urging all road users to avoid any unnecessary journeys tonight as road conditions continue to deteriorate across the county. 

Status Orange Snow/Ice warnings remain in place until 8.00pm this evening which will be followed by Status Yellow Snow/Ice warnings until midnight. Met Éireann has issued a Status Yellow Low Temperature/Ice warning which extends all the way through the coming week until midday Thursday 9th January 2025. 

Cork County Council’s Crisis Management Team convened this afternoon to review the conditions and to plan ahead for the extended cold snap. 

Many routes in north-west Cork remain impassable after more than 30cm of snow fell in places. The areas most impacted in terms of travel disruption include Charleville, Dromina, Newmarket, Rockchapel, Kanturk, Ballydesmond and elevated areas across north Cork and mid Cork. Snowploughs and gritters will continue to be deployed on priority routes throughout this evening and overnight.

A full list of priority road treatment routes is available on the following link: Priority Road Treatment Routes.

Tomorrow morning, travelling conditions are expected to continue to be hazardous, even where roads have been gritted and ploughed. The message to drivers is to avoid taking unnecessary journeys. If your journey is essential, please slow down, drive with caution, and be aware of other road users. Allow extra time for your journey. If a road has been treated by a gritter or snowplough, do not assume that the road is safe to travel. There may still be underlying snow or ice which would make the road hazardous. 

Pedestrians are advised to take extra care. Where snow has fallen, or where there is a risk of lingering ice, do not venture out unless it is absolutely necessary. Be aware of the fact that greenways and other public amenities will likely not have been treated. Remember that a simple trip/fall could give rise to the need for a hospital admission, so please take extra care. 

Members of the public can contact Cork County Council’s Out of Hours number 021 4800048 to report any out of hours issues.

Mallow and Fermoy Swimming Pools will be closed all day tomorrow Monday 6th January. The Council’s Mobile Library service will be suspended for the day and will therefore not be operating. All Cork County Council Civic Amenity Sites will remain closed tomorrow morning; the situation will be reviewed at that point with updates being publicised on the Council’s website. 

Key Safety Messages:

  • Wintry showers and icy surfaces will lead to difficult travel conditions
  • Driving conditions will be hazardous, even where roads are gritted, slow down, drive with caution, be aware of other road users and allow extra time for your journey.
  • Drivers travelling longer journeys are advised to be aware of conditions right along their route, as the weather may vary significantly across different parts of the country.
  • Public transport may also be affected by this spell of wintry weather, check with service operators for the latest updates in their area.
  • Take extra care while walking: footpaths etc. can be extremely hazardous/slippery due to ice
  • Check on elderly, vulnerable and isolated neighbours
  • Keep your phone charged and take it with you on all journeys. In an emergency dial 999 or 112
  • The Be Winter Ready website https://www.gov.ie/en/campaigns/aa78b9-be-winter-ready provides further advice on preparing for severe weather.
  • Monitor Met Éireann forecasts and/or visit https://www.met.ie/ for the most up to date information. Information is available across social media platforms and other news media sources.
  • ESB Emergency Services can be contacted at 1800 372 999. The public can monitor www.PowerCheck.ie.
  • Uisce Éireann Customers can check their website and social media channels for updates and can report any issues or concerns via its 24/7 customer care centre at 1800 278 278. 
  • People are advised to conserve water, and visit https://www.water.ie for advice
  • Farmers are advised to take all precautions when dealing with livestock and possibly working alone

Cork County Council will continue to provide updates on the Cork County Council website and across the Council’s social media channels @Corkcoco.