MET Éireann has issued a new Status Orange low temperature and ice warning for Limerick as the HSE has said continued disruption to health services is expected across the week.
This comes amid much upheaval in public services and transport across Limerick since the heavy snowfall at the weekend, leaving thousands without power, snowed in, any many without running water.
The national forecaster issued a Status Orange warning for all of Munster, Carlow, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois, Longford, Meath, Offaly, Westmeath, Wicklow, Cavan, Monaghan, and Connacht, coming into effect from 8pm today (Tuesday) and running until 10am on Wednesday morning.
Following the Status Orange warning ending on Wednesday morning, a further Status Orange will set in place from 6pm on Wednesday evening and run until 11am on Thursday, with temperatures expected to hit as low as -8 degrees in parts of Limerick.
That is alongside the Status Yellow snow, ice, and low temperature warning already in place in Limerick and across the vast majority of the country and remaining in place until 8am on Friday morning (January 10).
Met Éireann have warned of dangerous travelling conditions on road and underfoot, with travel disruption and delays likely as a result of the cold weather. The weather service also noted potential animal welfare issues.
A Status Orange warning, according to Met Éireann, denotes weather conditions that may “pose a threat to life and property”.
The hectic weather conditions have caused upheaval in public services and supply across the county over the last number of days.
Many are still without power in Limerick, including clusters in Adare, Ballingarry, Hospital, Oola, Kilmallock, Abbeyfeale, Athea, Patrickswell, and Rathkeale.
Power to most areas across the county is expected to be restored between 7pm and 9pm this evening.
It is understood the ESB had to send crews in via helicopter to Newcastle West to repair line damage in the area.
Health and welfare
Meanwhile, the HSE Mid West have said disruption to health services in Limerick, Tipperary, and Clare will continue throughout the week as a result of the extreme cold snap.
The health service have said that patients should only travel to their appointments if they have phoned ahead and confirmed they are still going ahead, and if road conditions are safe to do so.
Limerick blood donors have also been encouraged to come forward and give blood where possible during the cold snap, with a pre-amber alert being issued to all hospitals across Ireland, with blood supplies running low.
The pre-amber alert “enables the Irish Blood Transfusion Service to manage the limited blood supply available more effectively across the health service,” a spokesman said.
The Irish Blood Transfusion Service (IBTS) is running a number of emergency blood donation clinics across this week, including this Tuesday evening (January 7) at the Greenhills Hotel in Caherdavin from 4.15pm to 7.30 pm.
A blood donation clinic will also be held at the Newport Community Centre on January 8 from 3.50pm to 7.10pm, while on Thursday (January 9), Patrickswell Community Centre will see an emergency donation clinic held from 11.50am to 3.10pm.
Roads and transport
Gardaí have advised motorists in the Newcastle West and Rathkeale areas to stay off the roads except in an emergency, as conditions remain poor.
On Monday evening, a truck jackknifed on the N21 between Rathkeale and Newcastle West, leading to Gardaí being called in to assist.
“We recommend that you do not travel unless necessary. If you do need to drive, be extremely careful and aware of your surroundings,” a post on the Garda Síochána Limerick Facebook page said.
Road teams from Limerick City and County Council are still working to make roads across the county safe, with gritting works ongoing across last night and this morning. Some crews are working on gritting public footpaths outside schools.
Last night, the Council warned of “treacherous driving conditions” on account of the freezing temperature, with potential for black ice as the snow begins to melt.
It is understood that, as the extreme cold goes on, grit being laid on wet roads is turning in some areas to ice.
The Council is currently treating “priority routes” across the county, with Mayor John Moran saying that “there are 4,000 kilometres of roadway in Limerick, and it is not possible to treat every road and pedestrian area. We have to prioritise critical and strategic roads, which equate to 500 kilometres of the road network.”
