We’ve escaped the really cold weather so far, but that’s about to change this week.
Met Éireann has issued a Status Yellow Snow-ice warning for the entire country, saying it is going to be very cold this week with scattered wintry showers, frequent across the southwest, west and north.
Some accumulations of snow are expected. There will be widespread frost at night with icy stretches on untreated surfaces. There is the possibility of a more significant spell of sleet/snow on Thursday.
It’s valid from Tuesday at 6am to Saturday at 6pm. The warning will be updated at 10am on Tuesday. Button up folks.
THE Chief Executive of Kerry County Council, Moira Murrell, has thanked members of the public for their cooperation and support during the recent adverse weather conditions.
Over the course of several days, the Kerry Local Coordination Group – including Kerry County Council, An Garda Síochána, the HSE, Kerry Civil Defence and Kerry Fire Services – coordinated preparations for the storm and the response on the ground. The Group also liaised with the regional response team and the National Emergency Coordination Office.
Up to 150 council staff were involved in treating routes and in the clean-up operation around the county and personnel were mobilised to clear snow when it was safe to do so.
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Ahead of the storm, some 400 tonnes of grit were made available at over 90 locations around the county for use by members of the public.
“I would like to thank our Operations staff for their Trojan work over recent days as well as our Municipal District offices, engineers, and emergency contact personnel. Our staff on the ground managed to get the county moving again after some very busy and tiring days and nights,’ she said.
“The volunteers in the Civil Defence provided tremendous support in transporting people in urgent situations. There was also great assistance from Chief Supt Tom Myers and his colleagues, the team at Irish Water, and Teresa Donovan, Head of Primary Care with the HSE.”
“The Council is satisfied with the level of preparation at all levels of the organisation. There was very effective collaboration with all the public bodies involved,” she said.
.Ciara Kenny’s Michael Healy Rae snowman sent in by her brother Shane.
WELL the snow is gone (in Tralee anyway) and although it caused disruption to businesses and services in town, a lot of people had fun with it while it was here.
We asked you to send in some photos and we posted many of them on Friday. Here’s our final round-up of the craic you had in a winter wonderland over the past two days…
The Forde family in Ballyheigue.The Castlegregory way to handle that snow from Deanna Slattery.Nathan Walsh, Cluain Áird, enjoying snow for the first time, sent by Mairead Fernane.Caitriona O’Connor sent this one in.Lovely picture of Keelin Sinnott & her cousin Cian O’Halloran, Derrymore East, Tralee playing with Harley sent in by Jason Sinnott..Fun at the McMahons sent in by Tina McMahonEmma Carmody sent this proud photo..Fun in Cluain Ard.Relaxing in the snow, sent by Claire Behan.Toby in his little igloo in Barrow sent in by Dave BuckleyFenit from Terry Sheehy’s Drone.Gavin Foley was busy making a snow alien.
.Blennerville Windmill taken yesterday by Amy O’Brien.
A STATUS Orange weather warning is now in effect for Kerry until 6pm this evening. Freezing temperatures and further snowfall overnight means many routes will remain dangerous for driving over the course of the morning.
While national primary routes were treated from 5am this morning by council crews, there will be hazardous and treacherous conditions on some regional and local roads until a thaw sets in.
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An emergency contact line is available on 066 7183588. Rain is expected later today.
Latest rain and snow forecast for the next 24 hours. Rain = Blue to Red colours Snow = White pic.twitter.com/u93lzwcx6z
Meanwhile, most other businesses in town are back operating again.
• Dunnes Stores will open at 1pm (closing at 7pm) while Tesco, Lidl, Aldi and Garveys Supervalu supermarkets are open, as are all Centra, Gala, Daybreak and other ‘corner’ shops in the Tralee area.
• Tralee Omniplex is open today.
• Tralee Credit Union is open in Tralee and Castleisland until 3:30pm.
• The Chapter 23 Credit Unions Schools Quiz Final arranged for tomorrow, at Ballyroe Heights Hotel Tralee, is postponed and will take place on Sunday 11th March. The venue will be decided early next week.
Footpaths in Tralee town centre are being treated for benefit of pedestrians but be cautious on foot pic.twitter.com/un7a06Z0VM
MET Eireann has downgraded its snow-ice warning for Munster from Red to Orange from now until 9am tomorrow morning.
Snow accumulations will continue to increase though, due to further falls of snow in the coming hours in the province.
Much of today’s snow had thawed around Tralee by late afternoon, but it could be topped up overnight.
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The good news is that temperatures are to rise tomorrow, so by the afternoon it will have thawed out again.
It will be cold over the weekend with temperatures around 2 to 4 degrees celsius during the day and frosts at night, so it looks like the snow won’t be making a return after tonight in these parts for a while.
.Well known photographer Paul Tearle and daughter Megan in Kilflynn.
YOU’VE been posting loads of pics to us via Facebook of having fun in the snow in Tralee and around the county.
The Status Red alert is due to be lifted at 6pm but it’s still snowing as I type this in Tralee so be safe in the snow. Here’s some of your photos…
John and Ben O’Leary with a new friend in Ballyard. Photo sent by Michelle Cooper.Billy Daly sent this from the Town ParkThree young ladies proud of their work in Cois Laoi,.Ronan and Aoife Hobbert in Caherslee.Samantha Drury sent this in from Marian Park, Ballyheigue..The Cullotys having fun in BallybegganHe probably won’t make the Dublin game next week. Photo sent by Aileen Griffin.Fun times in Cluain Ard. Photo by Tina DonnellyDanny Leane sent this one in of young Naries..Abigail and her Alpacas in Ballymac.Pawel Paprocki’s pic from LixnawAvon Ania Zalewska with this family pic..Shannon Hegarty sent this in from ManorStallard Zinc found his way blocked in Camp.Archie Hobbert and his dog in Stacks Villas.Jack Price with an angry looking snowmanAoife Brosnan made these in BallymacHe’s been on the gin. Photo from Adele ConwayGavin Foley sent this one to two moody brothers.
WITH the Status Red weather warning still in effect for Kerry and with further snowfall and freezing conditions anticipated this evening and tonight, the Kerry Local Coordination Group is appealing to members of the public not to travel for the rest of today.
At this stage, national primary routes in the county have been treated by County Council staff, but only for the purpose of ensuring ease of access for essential emergency services.
Motorists are warned to stay off the roads which are extremely dangerous – public safety is paramount, and nobody should risk their own safety or that of others.
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The Group will continue to monitor the weather warnings and will issue further advisories in relation to travelling conditions tomorrow. Members of the public should heed all advice – including that for the National Emergency Coordination Office – before any travel is undertaken.
The Group thanks the public for heeding the advice issued to date. Emergency contact details are available on www.kerrycoco.ie and on social media.
WELL the blizzards and wind didn’t materialise in Kerry but a lot of snow fell.
You’ve been sending in your pics of what it looks like in your area and it apparently some of you have been busy making snowmen…
O’Rahillys Villas this morning from Jennifer Looby..Tricia Moran sent in these young naries.Nora Corridon sent in this family pic.Fenit Lighthouse from Mary Murphy.Emergency services with the new recruit sent in by Gearoid Constable.Lee Drive from Egson Oruqi.Overlooking Dingle from Winnie CurranRathmore from Fiona Real.Bridget Clifford from Abbeydorney sent this in.Vincent Foley sent this in The Spa, made by Bronagh and Sean Foley..Donal O’Sullivan sent in this.Marta Kolodziejczyk sent this playful pic..Rob Browne sent this in.Mike Parker’s Kilflynn pic.Fun in Keith from Marilyn Duffy.A blanket in Kilflynn from Kay Neenan MurnaneArd na Sidhe in Mounthawk from Grace Rose O’MahonyLispole from Paula Hand
.An aerial shot of St John’s Church and surrounding area by Steve Turner.
TRALEE woke up to a blanket of snow this morning and you’ve been sending in your pics from around the county.
The Kerry Local Emergency Coordination Group says there has been significant snowfall in the county, with high accumulations in isolated areas overnight.
There are treacherous conditions across Kerry and all travel should be avoided say the group.
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There is a Status Red weather warning in place until 6 pm today and further heavy snow fall is predicted.
Council crews have been mobilised this morning to work on priority routes to ensure access for emergency services in the first instance. Those crews – with over 100 personnel on duty – are working under very difficult conditions.
They are advising the public to stay indoors and avoid going out in these conditions, for their own safety.
Further updates will be provided throughout the day. Emergency contact numbers are available on www.kerrycoco.ie
Staying indoors might be difficult for children though, so expect a flurry of snowman photos here throughout the day. Here’s some of the images you’ve been sending in already…
Lily Hussey and Willow in Ballyvelly..Marian Park from Mark Holland.A Causeway snowman from Bogna Kuleszewicz..Tarbert from Michelle MulvihillSundays Well from Stacey Lawlor.The Marina from Aisling TessAbbeydorney from Siobhan Foley.Listry from Carmel KennedyValentia Island From Gerard O’Connor.Listowel from Joe O’Driscoll.Castlemaine from Gareth Flaherty..Sabrina Ní Bhrian sent this in.
THE Status Red snow-ice warning for Munster and Leinster has been extended to 6pm on Friday by Met Eireann.
They say there will be blizzard conditions tonight and during Friday in Leinster and Munster. Southern and eastern coastal counties are expected to receive exceptionally high accumulations, up to one metre in places.
Early evening in Tralee is very cold and dry, but Met Eireann says the snow showers and gale force winds will extend all over the province in the coming hours and overnight.
SOME updates on reviewed opening times for businesses due to the Status Red Weather Alert.
• Tralee Bay Wetlands and the Ballyseedy Wetlands Cafe will be closed today and Friday. They are hopeful that the centre, cafe and facilities will re-open for business as usual this Saturday.
• The Aqua Dome is closed today at 2pm and re-opens again on Friday at 2pm.
• Tralee Credit Union will close their offices in Tralee, Castleisland and Killorglin today and Friday. They plan to open offices as normal on Saturday in Tralee and Castleisland at 9:30am pending weather updates. Please check their Facebook page or call 066 712 2373 for updates.
• All AIB branches and call centres across Ireland will be closed on Thursday & Friday.
• All Bank Of Ireland and Ulster Bank branches will be closed on Thursday & Friday.
• Tralee VTOS will remain closed on Thursday and Friday.
• All Local Link Kerry bus services are cancelled for Thursday and Friday and Bus Eireann have cancelled all services on Thursday.
• The Kerry College of Further Education Parent information meeting due to be held on Thursday evening has now been moved to Tuesday, March 6 at 6.30pm.
• Lunchtime flights from Kerry Airport to Dublin are cancelled. Ryanair flights from the airport today are also cancelled. The Airport reopens at 12 noon tomorrow.
Flights cancelled today are;
EI3204 from Dublin
EI3205 to Dublin
FR1709 from Berlin
SXF FR1710 to Berlin
SXF FR842 from London Luton
FR843 to London Luton
EI3208 from Dublin
• Garvey’s Supervalu in Tralee will be closed from 3pm on Thursday to 3pm on Friday.
• Currys PC World and Carphone Warehouse stores will close from 2pm today in Kerry.
• St Vincent de Paul Tralee shops and office will be closed Thursday and Friday. Their emergency number is (087) 784 8825.
• Dealz Tralee is closing at 2pm Thursday and reopening at 1pm tomorrow.
• Final services today on Irish Rail are Tralee: 13:20hrs Mallow to Tralee, 13:05hrs Tralee to Cork. Train services are not expected to operate before 12noon on Friday on any route. They will update arrangements after 12:00hrs Friday as soon as possible.
• All Dunnes Stores in ROI and NI will be closed today Thursday 1st March and will not reopen until 1pm Friday 2 March – this reopening is subject to weather improvement.
• Yummy Cafe closing at 2:30pm on Thursday. They’ll monitor the weather and advise of tomorrow’s opening time of Friday evening.
• CH Chemists will be closed on Friday and will reopen at 9am on Saturday morning.
We’ll be updating this as we get information. If you have a business with changes to opening hours and want to add to this list of updates, email dcrean@traleetoday.ie
WITH the storm approaching and a Status Red weather warning issued, the large supermarkets have had to review their opening times for Thursday and Friday.
Tesco Stores in Kerry will open from 9am-2pm on Thursday and on Friday they will open from 1pm. They will keep these trading hours under review.
Lidl stores in Kerry will be closed from 3pm on Thursday until 1pm on Friday.
Dunnes Stores will open at 9am and close at 3pm on Thursday. They will continue to monitor the weather situation and issue further updates on Twitter Facebook and www.dunnesstores.com
Store Management teams at Aldi are monitoring the situation closely across the country and will update customers via social media.
Garvey’s Supervalu in Tralee will open as normal on Thursday morning at 7.30am and will monitor the weather situation throughout the day. They will issue updates via their Facebook and Twitter accounts.
THE Kerry Local Coordination Group met again this afternoon to review preparations for the severe weather forecast for Kerry over the next two days.
A Status Red weather warning for Kerry is effective for the period from 4pm on Thursday to 12 noon on Friday.
The group has stated that this is a significant emergency situation and that all advice from public agencies should be carefully heeded by all members of the public.
Met Éireann is forecasting that blizzard-like conditions will develop with heavy snow and strong easterly winds on Thursday evening and will continue Thursday night and Friday morning giving significant snow drifts and very poor visibility in many areas.
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The Group issues the following notifications and advice:
Travel and roads
• The public should heed the public safety advice of government to be at home by 4pm on Thursday and to remain at home for the duration of the weather alert
• The Local Coordination Group advises that all road travel during the period the weather warning is in place should be avoided as snowfall and blizzard conditions will make travel extremely hazardous
Emergency contact
An emergency contact number has been set up to deal with emergencies and can be contacted at all times on 066 718 3588. Water related issues should be reported to Irish Water on 1850 278 278.
Office closures
All Kerry County Council offices, facilities, and amenities will be closed to the public from 1pm on Thursday, 1st March and on Friday, 2nd March but the emergency contact phone number will be manned at all times on a 24 hour basis.
Updates and social media
The Local Coordination Group and Kerry County Council will issue updates through:
• All local media
• Social media channels – @countkerry on Twitter and on the Council’s Facebook page
• A dedicated Alerts site is accessible through the Council’s website homepage and includes all updates on road conditions and other issues. See http://alerts.kerrycoco.ie/wordpress/
ALL schools and colleges in Kerry are to close for Thursday and Friday, the Department of Education has confirmed.
The decision to close schools and colleges in Munster and Leinster has been made for safety reasons due to the Status Red snow/ice warning issued this morning for the two provinces, from Thursday evening to Friday at noon.
Kerry College of Further Education in Clash, Tralee, was due to hold an information evening for parents of school leavers on Thursday evening but this has been postponed to Tuesday, March 6 at 6.30pm.
LOOKS like we’re going to get a real blast of Storm Emma down here after all.
Met Eireann has updated their warnings for the cold weather with a Red Status snow/ice warning issued for Munster and Leinster for Thursday at 4pm to Friday midday.
Blizzard-like conditions will develop in heavy snow and strong easterly winds on Thursday evening and will continue Thursday night and Friday morning giving significant snow drifts in many areas.
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The Kerry Local Coordination Group met again this morning – the group includes Kerry County Council, Kerry Fire Services, Kerry Civil Defence, the HSE and An Garda Síochána. The group reviewed the current forecast and Met Éireann advisories.
The Group is advising members of the public to take time today to prepare for the adverse conditions and to refer to www.winterready.ie for tips and advice. The Group will meet again at 4pm and will issue further updates and advice at that stage.
Earlier this morning, Kerry was not included in any warnings, but after looking at the latest data, Met Eireann issued the latest warnings for Thursday/Friday at 11am. Today will remain very cold with temperatures plummeting to -6 degrees celsius overnight.
IN their update on the cold weather situation this morning, Met Eireann has not issued any snow/ice warning for Kerry.
It appears, at this stage, that Kerry will escape the worst of the adverse conditions with the east coast under a Status Red, neighbours Cork under Status Orange and Clare and Limerick under Status Yellow snow/ice warnings.
However, all these warnings apply until noon on Thursday and Met Eireann may update the warnings to include Kerry as they assess the path of Storm Emma.
It’s still set to be very cold in the county with temperatures of around 0 to 2 degrees during the day in Kerry and down to -6 degrees Celsius overnight and snowfall is expected in many areas over the next 24 hours.
THE Kerry Local Coordination Group met again at County Buildings today to review preparations for the cold weather conditions expected over the coming days with regard to weather advisories issued by Met Éireann.
The salting of major routes across the county will continue as required in the coming days. Motorists and pedestrians are advised to be cautious whether routes have been treated or not and to proceed with care.
As a precaution, Kerry County Council is placing supplies of grit at dozens of locations around the county over the course of the next 24 hours. Members of the public are asked to use this grit only where urgently required.
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The Group has reminded members of the public to look in on elderly or vulnerable neighbours to ensure they have adequate heating and food supplies for a few days.
Updates will be provided on Kerry County Council social media channels and more information will be available on its dedicated Alerts website via the Kerry County Council website.
Grit available at the following locations from later today:
Tralee Municipal District
Tralee Town
Matt Talbot Car Park
Cloghers Pump station
Castlemorris Terrace Area
Aquadome carpark
Shanakill / Rahoonane
Strand St / O’Rahillys Villas area
Rathass Burial ground (Ballinorig Side)
Entrance to the Mart, Mounthawk
Tralee MD East
Brosna GAA Field
Knocknagoshel GAA Field
Reenagowan Cross (Dan Paddy Andy’s Cross)
Lackabaun Cross (near Curranes NS)
Headle’ys Bridge, Knocknagoshel
Tralee MD West
Camp Village (opp. Fitzgerald’s Bar & Restaurant)
Tonevane Cross (near Pumphouse)
Ballymac GAA Field
Dromavalla (near Farmer’s Bridge)
Kielduff Creamery
Leith Cross (Listowel Road)
Lisloose / Bullock Hill (Abbeydorney Road – Tralee)
Listowel Municipal District
Listowel Town – Neodata Site
Causeway – Church Carpark
Finuge – GAA Carpark
Duagh – GAA Carpark
Moyvane – Parking area near GAA pitch
Knockanure – Near Ahavoher Burial Ground
Tarbert – Near Sensory Garden – N-69
Ballyheigue – Beach Carpark
Kilmoyley – Church Carpark
Ballylongford – Old Creamery Yard
Abbeydorney – Near GAA Pitch
Lixnaw – Parking area near Playground
Kilflynn- Area near Village Crossroads
Lisselton – Near Bottle Banks
Asdee – Near Bottle Banks
Lisselton – Near Bottle Banks
Killarney Municipal District
Killarney Town
High St Car park
Lewis Road Car park
Adjacent to the Cahernane Hotel on Muckross road
New St Car park
Killarney Rural
Currow Old Creamery
Scartaglen Village near Riordan’s Garage
Knocknaboul Cross, Ballydesmond
Cordal, Outside Graveyard
Quarry Cross, Gneevguilla
Ballinadeega, Rathmore
Cahereens, Castleisland
Gleanshearoon, Castleisland
Pike Hill, Cordal
Glountane Br., Cordal
Glenflesk Church
Mangerton Road Lay-by
Listry GAA Grounds
Flynns Forge
Ballyhar Church
Scart Cross
Coolick National School
Old Kilcummin Creamery
Tiernaboul ESB station
South and West Municipal District
Cahersiveen
Kells Kells Station N70
Caherciveen Fair Green at the rear of the Library
Valentia / Portmagee Chapeltown football field
Ballinskelligs Ballinskelligs football field
Dromid Dromid football field
Waterville Inny Bridge N70
Caherdaniel Lambs Head junction N70
Castlecove Church N70
Killorglin
Killorglin – Kerry County Council Compound on the Cromane road
Beaufort – Churchtown car park
Miltown – Opposite the Mart on Myles Lane
Glenbeigh – Car park on Rossbeigh road
Cromane – Kerry County Council Compound on the Cromane road
Glencar – Quarry near Lough Acoose
Ballyfinnane – At the Bridge between the Shanty Bar and Firies Cross Kenmare
Kenmare – Pier Rd
Sneem – N70 at Junction of Oriech Rd
Kilgarvan – Dance Hall R569
Bonane – Between Bonane Church N71 and Bonane NS
Lauragh – Lauragh Church R571
Blackwater – Direendaragh Church
Dingle
· Ventry – Blue Flag Carpark
· Dun Chaoin – Carpark overlooking Coumeenole Strand
THE Kerry Local Coordination Group met at County Buildings this morning to review preparations for the adverse weather conditions forecast for later this week.
While it looks like, at this stage, Kerry will escape the worst of the low temperatures and snowfall, the group which consists of Kerry County Council, An Garda Síochána, Kerry Civil Defence, Kerry Fire Services, and the Health Services Executive is taking no chances.
Status Orange and Yellow Snow/Ice warnings have been issued this afternoon, but Kerry is not included as a county affected so far. However, freezing temperatures are forecast and a Status Yellow low temperature warning is in place for the entire country.
The Group assessed the current weather forecast and reviewed all the preparations which are being made for the expected freezing conditions in the coming days.
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Salting of priority routes overnight will continue over the coming nights and road conditions will be closely monitored. Additional routes will be treated as required.
Drivers are advised to never assume that a route has been treated and to exercise caution when driving in freezing conditions.
Owners of vacant premises are asked to shut off their water supplies as a precaution in case of frozen pipes.
The Group also asks members of the public to look in on elderly or vulnerable neighbours to ensure they have adequate heating and food supplies for a few days.
The Kerry Local Coordination Group advises members of the public to prepare now for the cold conditions. Useful advice is available from the website, www.winterready.ie.
Updates will be provided on Kerry County Council social media channels and more information will be available on its dedicated Alerts website via the Kerry County Council website.
WINTER is here.
WITH the Status Red weather warning still in effect for Kerry and with further snowfall and freezing conditions anticipated this evening and tonight, the Kerry Local Coordination Group is appealing to members of the public not to travel for the rest of today.
THE Kerry Local Coordination Group met again this afternoon to review preparations for the severe weather forecast for Kerry over the next two days.