Cork County Council update in advance of Orange Weather Warning

Cork County is currently under a Met Eireann Status Yellow Low Temperature/Ice warning which will be updated to Status Orange from 6pm this evening until 12 noon tomorrow Thursday, December 15th. A further Status Orange Low Temperature/Ice warning will come into effect from 6pm tomorrow until 12noon on Friday 16th December. Severe frost and further icy stretches are forecasted to set in tonight, with temperatures likely to fall below -5 degrees in many areas.

Cork County Council’s Severe Weather Assessment Team convened this afternoon following the National Emergency Coordination Group meeting.   The Council’s Road treatment programme will continue treating P1 and P2 routes and has been extended to treat P3 routes and town centre locations. 

The Council will prioritise vulnerable locations such as schools, doctors’ surgeries, churches etc. Members of the public should contact their local Council office should such a location require urgent treatment. Full contact details are available at the following link: Roads Contact Details.

Local communities can also avail of grit stockpiles which are available across a number of locations. The locations are available at the following link: Cork County Grit Locations.

Members of the public are asked to be aware of the possible impacts of this Orange Weather Warning, which include;

• Treacherous conditions on paths and roads

• Travel disruption

• Potential supply disruption

• Potential for burst water pipes and damage to engines

• Increased risks to vulnerable members of the community

• Animal welfare issues

• Slack winds over land leading to reduced wind power generation

Motorists are asked to avoid unnecessary journeys as driving conditions will be hazardous.  If a journey must be undertaken, please slow down, allow extra time and be aware of other roads users, especially vulnerable road users such as pedestrians and cyclists.

• Be mindful of icy surface conditions

• Check on vulnerable and isolated neighbours

• Keep your phone charged and take it with you on all journeys

• In an emergency dial 999 or 112

Details of the Council’s road treatment routes can by found by visiting Severe Weather Information, Warnings & Road Alerts | Cork County Council (corkcoco.ie)