Snow and ice is causing widespread disruption across parts of the country this morning.
Drivers are being advised to take extra care with a Status Yellow weather warning still in place.
Met Éireann said it will be very cold this week with showers of hail, sleet and snow, frequent across the southwest, west and north.
The forecaster has warned of widespread frost with icy stretches on untreated surfaces, with the potential for further significant snowfall in places on Thursday
Fair amount of snow overnight. Nearly 8cm on the car. #sneachta pic.twitter.com/LjKxn8cOGO
— Jonathan Healy (@jonathanhealy) January 30, 2019
The counties worst affected by icy roads are Cork, Sligo, Limerick, Galway, Tipperary, Roscommon and Cavan.
The Road Safety Authority (RSA) is warning all motorists to “monitor the national and local weather forecasts and traffic reports before making any journey.”
A snowy Carr's Hill - N28 at a standstill. Lovely morning though! â„ï¸ðŸŒ¨ï¸ @CorkSafetyAlert #Sneachta pic.twitter.com/ymty66yb3e
— Alan Barry (@Alanpbarry) January 30, 2019
Michael Rowland director of road safety, driver education and research at the RSA said: “We are appealing to drivers to be prepared, ensure their cars are roadworthy and ready for the conditions,” said “Clear all snow from vehicles.
“Snow on the roof can become loose; it can drop off on to the windscreen during breaking causing sudden a severe restriction of a driver’s vision.”
He said the RSA is asking drivers to:
- Slow down
- Use controls delicately
- Leave extra distance between you and the car in front
- Avoid over steering, harsh breaking or harsh acceleration
- Use a high gear to avoid wheel spin and a low gear when travelling downhill
Up to three or four inches of snow has fallen on some routes across the north west region overnight and conditions are hazardous, even on roads that have already been treat
Driver stopped using their mobile phone on a very icy road in Cork this morning. Conditions are already poor and with the added distraction of using a phone this could have been catastrophic.#BeSafe #ArriveAlive #Sneachta pic.twitter.com/6VOg3iweYq
— An Garda Síochána (@GardaTraffic) January 30, 2019
Sligo County Council is advising motorists to drive only if necessary. The local authority has been clearing the N4 dual carriage way with a snow plough and gritting is also taking place.
Motorists in Leitrim are advised that there is heavy snow fall on the Carrick-on-Shannon to Killashandra road.
In Cork, Gardaí in Mallow are warning that roads around Kanturk, Newmarket, Meelin and Rockchapel are particularly bad.
A number of school bus services have been cancelled and weather conditions have led to flight cancellations and delays.
Plenty of #sneachta in Donegal @todayfm pic.twitter.com/gAgssYZCPh
— DonegalMaps (@DonegalMaps) January 29, 2019
Snow is causing delays in parts of Donegal, while some routes in Wicklow are impassable.
Motorists are being advised to slow down and allow extra journey time.
Cobh early this morning. #cork #cobh #purecork pic.twitter.com/4qwoUKRP2o
— Aaron Woods (@woodsCOBH) January 30, 2019
