There was major disruption of the post-Christmas travel exodus yesterday as severe weather hit many parts of Ireland, Britain and Europe. There were hopes of more regular car ferry and airline services this morning, but the weather will continue to create dangerous conditions today, according to the forecasters.
Motorists have been warned to be on their guard for icy roads, flooding and fallen trees.
Fierce gales reaching more than 100 m.p.h., coupled with heavy rain and snow, swept across Britain yesterday, causing flooding, structural damage to buildings and power cuts in thousands of homes in the west country and south Wales. Northern Ireland was also badly affected.
Ferry services were disrupted over the weekend, with thousands of passengers unable to return to Britain after the Christmas holiday. In Cork, 1,500 passengers were unable to sail.
Flights in and out of Dublin Airport were delayed because of bad weather in Britain and on the Continent.
The stormy weather is expected to continue today and tomorrow, culminating in a very cold day on Wednesday. The second half of the week will be noticeably milder, but more strong winds and rain are forecast.
Met Eireann has warned of dangerous conditions on many roads this morning while the AA has advised motorists to expect flooding and fallen trees.
Munster and Leinster can expect the worst of the weather today, with prolonged or heavy falls of sleet or snow. Elsewhere, the weather will also be generally bad, despite some bright or sunny periods, of which the best will be in northern areas. Frost and icy roads will bring a return to dangerous driving conditions after dark.
The weekend saw even worse weather in Britain and on parts of the Continent. The highest wind of 115 m.p.h. - recorded at The Mumbles in south Wales - prompted coastguards in the area to describe the storm as the worst they had ever experienced.
Nine Spanish fisherman and an Irish colleague who had been stranded on board their sinking trawler, the Sonia Nancy, 200 miles off the coast of Cornwall, were rescued last night amid worsening conditions, which included force-11 gales and 60-foot-high waves.
Severe storms are expected to continue in Britain for most of the week.
In France, motorists and pedestrians were barred from some western coastal areas as storms battered the shores and cut off islands.
Storms and high waves in the North Sea battered a Stena Lines ferry sailing from Harwich in England to the Hook of Holland yesterday, ripping panels from the bow section of the vessel.
Snow fell in many parts of Ireland. While much of it melted, there was concern that freezing overnight would lead to very dangerous conditions on the roads this morning. The problem will be compounded by fresh falls of sleet and snow today, especially where these are prolonged.
While the weather is expected to turn milder this afternoon, temperatures will fall again tonight, resulting in ice on roads.
Some of the worst traffic disruption yesterday was at Kildare, on the main Dublin/Cork road, where flooding at Monasterevin caused a three-mile tailback. AA Roadwatch has advised motorists travelling between Dublin, Cork and Limerick to avoid Monaster evin by using the Athy road.
The west escaped relatively unscathed in comparison to other parts of the country. Gardai in Galway reported no major problems in relation to either fallen trees or dangerous roads, despite the strong winds which lashed the coast on Saturday.
The worst of the weather on the island occurred in Northern Ireland, where gale-force winds, rain and snow caused severe traffic disruption and several hundred homes were without electricity after high winds brought down power lines.
A rock landslide closed a sixmile stretch of the Ballygally to Glenarm road in Co Antrim.
Last night, the RUC warned drivers to go out only when necessary.
In Scotland, climbers and skiers were warned that heavy snowfalls had increased the risk of avalanches.
Europe is not the only part of the world being hit by storms - in Peru, the death-toll from several weeks of freak weather attributed to El Nino has risen to 24, with at least nine people missing.
Drivers warned of wind, rain and snow; Long wait for ferryman; Dramatic rescue from sinking trawler: page 6
Waves damage North Sea ferry; Fierce storms in Britain: page 7