TRANSPORT DISRUPTION:THE EAST coast, worst hit by blizzards yesterday, will be last area to see a clearance of snowstorms this afternoon, according to Met Éireann.
Drier weather will set in over the weekend, according to forecaster Gerald Fleming, with a “slow thaw” which would lessen the chance of severe flooding when the deep snow banks began to melt.
While daytime temperatures will rise over tomorrow and Sunday, reaching five to six degrees along the Atlantic coasts, the nights will remain very cold with further hard frosts. Night-time temperatures are likely to be down to between minus two and minus eight degrees, with ice, frost and some freezing fog.
This is likely to continue into next week with mostly dry, cold, bright weather expected. Scattered rain or hail showers are more likely to be concentrated along the west coast, with drier weather to the east. Temperatures are expected to be in the low positive single figures in the first half of the week, rising a little later in the week.
However, they will still be below normal for the time of year.
Water shortages which affected many parts of the country last January, particularly Dublin city, have yet to be a problem this year.
Dublin city’s chief engineer Michael Phillips yesterday said there were no plans to put restrictions on water use in place yet but he appealed to householders to conserve supplies. Local authorities around the State have asked householders to report any burst water mains.
Charities and voluntary organisations are playing a major role in the emergency response, assisting local authorities, gardaí and the HSE. Civil Defence volunteers have been helping to transport patients, nurses and healthcare workers in isolated areas.
The Irish Red Cross is staffing a Dublin-based command centre to aid communication between the HSE National Ambulance Service and the voluntary organisations, and to manage the despatch process of voluntary resources in the greater Dublin area.
Age Action has teamed up with the St Vincent de Paul and Muintir na Tíre to provide helplines for older people who are house-bound and who need a volunteer to bring them essential supplies.
The numbers are Age Action 01- 475 6989, Muintir na Tíre 086- 600 0751 and St Vincent de Paul 01-838 6990.
Almost 150 Defence Forces personnel and 45 Army 4x4 vehicles have been deployed to helping local authorities. Efforts were yesterday concentrated on the worst- hit areas of Dundalk, Drogheda, Newbridge, Kildare and Naas where personnel were working de-icing and gritting roads and footpaths.
Local authorities in areas most affected by snow and ice closed public parks yesterday due to health and safety concerns, particularly related to partially frozen ponds. In Dublin, the Office of Public Works yesterday afternoon closed St Stephen’s Green, the Iveagh Gardens, the War Memorial Gardens, Islandbridge, and the Garden of Remembrance, Parnell Square.
Hotels around Dublin city last night said that while there had been cancellations, there had also been those who had booked in due to the difficult travel conditions.
A spokesman for Bewley’s Hotel at Dublin airport said that despite a number of cancellations, the number of people booking rooms exceeded the hotel’s 466-room capacity and a waiting list was in operation.
Meanwhile, the Gresham Hotel had some cancellations but also reported people booking in due to the weather conditions.