The roads around West Cork are reportedly treacherous this morning, as black ice is covering most roads, including main roads between towns. Backroads are especially lethal and, with cold conditions set to continue for a few days, there may be only a temporary thaw.
We will keep you posted during the day and let us know of any dangerous conditions in your area, by messaging us on our social media channels or emailing [email protected]
It goes without saying that all drivers are being advised to take care on the roads and you should only go out today if it's absolutely necessary. If you absolutely must walk anywhere, use cleats on shoes, or a good makeshift option is thick socks over the soles of your shoes – you may look daft, but you will look a lot dafter – or worse – if you slip and injure yourself.
WEDNESDAY 9:20am
Cork County Council’s Severe Weather Assessment Team convened this morning as a Status Orange Low Temperature/Ice warning remains in effect for Cork.
The Met Éireann warning for extremely cold weather with widespread severe frost, ice and lying snow remains in place until 10am. A further Status Orange Low Temperature/Ice warning will come into effect for Cork at 6pm tonight until 11.00am tomorrow morning. A Status Yellow warning also remains in place until 12 noon on Friday the 10th of January.
The Council is urging all road users to take extreme care if they must travel over the coming days. Conditions remain extremely challenging on many routes in north-west and north Cork where lying snow continues to be an issue.
Council crews are continuing to treat priority routes, however, due to the low temperatures, widespread icy patches can be expected even on treated roads.
Diversions remain in place westbound on the R585 in West Cork due to icy conditions. Traffic is advised to divert via the R587 at Shanlaragh to Dunmanway and then via the R586/N71 to Bantry.
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.
Cork County Council’s Emergency Line remains open on 021 4800048 to report any issues.
Some Council services may have varying opening hours or remain closed today, please contact us before you travel. The Council website www.corkcoco.ie and social media channels @Corkcoco will have updates on council services such as civic amenity sites, swimming pools and libraries.
A full list of priority road treatment routes is available here: https://www.corkcoco.ie/
7pm
Coláiste Pobail Bheanntraí will be closed tomorrow Wednesday.
3:50pm
Regarding HSE appointments tomorrow, the HSE says that non-urgent HSE appointments scheduled for Bantry General Hospitals – such as outpatient appointments and other clinical appointments – will not go ahead. This decision was taken in light of additional weather warnings from Met Éireann, including the latest Orange Weather Warning. Appointments at community facilities in North Cork will also be affected. While many appointments will go ahead in Cork city hospitals (ie Cork University Hospital, Mercy University Hospital and the South Infirmary - Victoria University Hospital), they appeal to patients not to travel unless it is safe to do so. Appointments will also go ahead at community facilities around the city, East Cork and South Cork where it is safe to do so. At Cork University Maternity Hospital, all patients are asked to present for their appointment, again provided it is safe to do so. If it is not safe for you to travel, contact the CUMH on 021-4920500 to reschedule. Staff are making contact with patients to let them know about deferred appointments.
3.43pm
Skibbereen Community School has announced that it will not open tomorrow (Wednesday) due to the forecast. School buses will operate this evening as normal.
3.30pm
The district court office in Clonakilty said this afternoon that the bulk of the cases listed for Macroom District Court tomorrow will be adjourned to Wednesday January 15th in Macroom. There will be an update regarding this week's Bantry court 'as soon as possible' and the Clonakilty office will also be closed tomorrow Wednesday.
3.15pm
Dunmanway MICC will remain closed Wednesday and Thursday, Innishannon Scoil Eoin will remain closed Wednesday & Thursday, Kilbrittain NS will be school closed Wednesday and Thursday, and Bandonbridge will remain closed Wednesday and Thursday.
Newcestown NS, Kinsale Community School, Bandon Grammar, and St Brogan's College will all remain closed for Wednesday at least.
3pm
12.46pm
Cork County Council says that traffic travelling westbound on the R585 is advised to divert via R587 at Shanlaragh to Dunmanway and then via R586/N71 to Bantry.
12.15pm
More updates from Cork County Council:
Reports of ice on N71 Skibbereen to Ballydehob road between Kilcoe and Church Cross. Dunmanway Swimming Pool remains closed today.
Our Civic Amenity Sites in Skibbereen, Derryconnell, Clonakilty, Bandon and Macroom remain closed this morning due to icy conditions on site.
Our Kinsale MD, Dunmanway and Millstreet area offices are currently closed.
Cork County Council says parts of the N71 remain dangerous.
11:34am
Cork County Council says the Severe Weather Warning for low temperatures for Cork issued by Met Éireann has now been extended until 11am on Thursday morning.
The alert says: 'Extremely cold with widespread severe frost, ice and lying snow.Impacts:• Dangerous travelling conditions on roads and underfoot• Travel disruption and delays• Animal welfare issues
- Event: Orange Low Temperature/Ice
- Severity: Orange
- Valid from: Wed. 08/01 @ 6PM
- Valid to: Thu. 09/01 @ 11AM
- Affected Areas: Leinster, Cavan, Monaghan, Munster, Connacht.'
11.02am
Newcestown village experiencing icy conditions.
11am
Cork County Council says the R585 at Cousane is now passable with care.
10:35am
Cork County Council says: 'Our salters and ploughs were operating throughout the night, however, there are reports of hazardous conditions on roads that were recently treated.'
A salt spreader but Cork County Council says even treated roads are now showing icy conditions. (Photo: Cork County Council)10:30am
Water tanker in Schull: Uisce Eireann says repairs to a burst water main may cause supply disruptions to Cooper point, Corthna, Bill Barry Road, Gubben, Croaghb Bay, Drinane, Leancon, Derryleary, Castlepoint, Cove, Gunpoint, Beakeen, Ardmanagh, Schull and surrounding areas. Crews are working to restore supply as soon as possible. An alternative water supply is available from 8am today (January 7th) at the Garda Station, Schull. Please boil the water before use. Uisce Éireann makes every effort to ensure that the alternative drinking water supply provided, including the tanker/bowser, and dispensing tap, are adequately disinfected. However, as it is not practical to provide sterilised containers for the public to transport drinking water from the tanker to their homes, we cannot guarantee that any containers used by the public do not negatively impact or contaminate the drinking water. They recommend that you allow 3-4 hours after the estimated restoration time for your supply to fully return. Please take note of the following reference number and enter it into the search bar should you wish to return for an update: COR00087242.
10.15am
Met Eireann has just now issued a Level Orange severe weather alert (Low Temps) for Cork. Valid from Tue. 07/01 @ 8PM until Wed. 08/01 @ 10AM, see www.Met.ie
10am
Kealkil National School outside Bantry has announced it will stay closed for the day.
Kealkil NS which will be closed today.
9.20am
Cork County Council is advising people to avoid any unnecessary journeys due to widespread ice and dangerous road conditions across the county.
The Council’s salters and ploughs were operating throughout the night. However, there are reports of hazardous conditions on roads that were recently treated.
The Council’s Crisis Management Team met this morning to assess the situation as Status Yellow Snow-Ice and Low Temperature warnings remain in place for the county.
Met Éireann has also a series of Status Orange Low Temperature/Ice warnings for Cork from 8.00pm tonight until 10.00am tomorrow morning and from 6.00pm tomorrow (Wednesday) until 11.00am on Thursday morning.
The potential impacts include dangerous travelling conditions on roads and underfoot, travel disruption and delays and animal welfare issues.
National primary and national secondary routes in Cork are passable with extreme care this morning. However, don’t assume a road is safe even it is has been recently treated.
The majority of priority 3 routes remain untreated and are in very poor condition. A full list of road treatment routes is available here: https://www.corkcoco.ie/sites/
9:15am
A beautiful morning near Caheragh today - but clear skies mean lethal roads in freezing temperatures, so watch out.Back roads between Skibbereen and Caheragh are lethal - please avoid if possible.
9.10am
Met Éireann has issued two status orange low temperature/ice warnings for West Cork, advising that the hazardous conditions will continue throughout the week.
Met Éireann say to expect the conditions to be 'extremely cold with widespread severe frost, ice and lying snow.'
The first warning is in place from Tuesday, January 7th at 8pm until Wednesday, January 8th at 10am.
The subsequent warning comes into effect shortly afterwards - at 6pm Wednesday, January 8th.
It is in place until 11am on Thursday, January 9th.
We will keep you updated all day right here.
8.49am
Coláiste Pobail Bheanntraí has announced it will be closed today.
8.48am
Roads around Newcestown are very icy.
8.45am
Skibbereen to Baltimore road is very icy.
8.42am
Roads across West Cork are icy. The Fire Brigade has advised schools to delay opening until 11am.
8:37am
Hill past the Heritage Centre in Skibbereen is very icy.
