New weather warning issued as snow falls in some parts of Cork

Cork and national emergency groups have met today ahead of the weather warnings in place across Ireland, as an orange rain and snow warning for Cork is set to commence at 5pm.

Significant accumulations of heavy rain, transitioning to sleet and snow, is forecast throughout this evening and tomorrow.

Met Eireann shared that temperatures in parts of Cork dropped to almost minus three degrees last night, and are currently predicting that Cork city will see mostly heavy rainfall today, with the possibility of some snow tomorrow afternoon at around 5pm.

Minimum temperatures lastnight from our stations across the country, with many areas reaching temperatures of below freezing. 🥶

Cold & breezy overnight tonight with lows of -1 to +3C.❄️

For more information, visit: https://t.co/itZWaoDQZ8 pic.twitter.com/DDbPc1WywG

— Met Éireann (@MetEireann) January 4, 2025

Met Éireann has also issued a new yellow weather warning for low temperatures and ice for the entire country which will come into effect at 5pm on Sunday, valid until 12pm on Monday.

Cork City Council advised people to: “Exercise great care if you're driving, walking, or cycling, as surfaces may be slippery,” adding that their Severe Weather Assessment Team is closely observing the situation.

Cork County Council’s Severe Weather Assessment Team convened this afternoon ahead of the warning - a Status Yellow Rain and Snow warning is now in place, and the Status Orange warning will be in effect from 5pm this evening until 5pm tomorrow.

The council has asked motorists to avoid unnecessary journeys as driving conditions will be hazardous, with the council advising never to drive through flooded roads, as the depth of the water can be deceiving.

The Council will continue to implement its Winter Maintenance Plan which involves treating identified priority routes across the county, however rainfall may limit the effectiveness of salting already undertaken, so motorists should continue to exercise care even where roads have been treated.

There has already been some snow reported in parts of Cork County, near the Cork and Kerry border, including in Gougane Barra, Rathmore and Ballingeary.

Shhhhh-it’s snowing pic.twitter.com/wpvUBeWizo

— Gougane Barra Hotel (@gouganebarra) January 4, 2025

A few fights arriving into and Cork airport have been delayed today already, though the majority are operating to schedule.

The airport advised those intending to travel to Cork Airport over the weekend to allow ample time for their journey, saying: “With potentially hazardous travelling conditions expected, due caution should be exercised on the roads at all times.”  

A Status Orange (rain and snow) weather warning will be in effect from 17:00 (today, January 4) to 17:00 (tomorrow, January 5).

At this time, the advice remains as follows:

🚗 Those intending to travel to Cork Airport over the weekend are advised to allow ample time for their… pic.twitter.com/0kBQYFexy4

— Cork Airport (@CorkAirport) January 4, 2025

They also advised that public transport services may also be affected over the coming days, and suggested passengers refer to the relevant bus operator’s website in advance.

“For the most accurate and up-to-date flight information, passengers are advised to contact their airline or refer to their airline website/mobile app,” they added.

Bus Eireann has also warned customers of potential service disruptions, with one Cork bus being cancelled this morning. The Service Updates section of their website will have up to date information on possible delays or cancellations, and people are asked to check this before embarking on journeys.

Cork Kerry Community Healthcare have advised people to stay warm and to check in on older neighbours.

🌨️Colder weather can be hard for older people.

If you have family or neighbours who are older, make sure they are not alone. It's especially important to check on them if there is bad weather coming. Make sure they have enough food and medicine.https://t.co/FN1MemRx8C pic.twitter.com/UM43sh4fDF

— Cork Kerry Community Healthcare (@CorkKerryCH) January 4, 2025

A virtual National Emergency Co-ordination Group (NECG) meeting was also held this morning to prepare for the potentially disruptive weather forecasted across Ireland.

The Group was chaired by the Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management (NDFEM) – part of the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.

Met Éireann and a range of other stakeholders including from the education and transport sectors attended the meeting to discuss and co-ordinate preparations for the incoming weather.

Local Authority Severe Weather Assessment Teams (SWATs) continue to monitoring conditions locally and emergency response are ready to respond where and when necessary, and adequate salt supplies are in place to treat roads as well as footpaths in urban centres where possible.

The National Transport Authority has confirmed that all public transport authorities are on alert in anticipation of potential disruption due to the predicted weather. Commuters should check with their operator before undertaking any public transport journeys.

Keith Leonard, National Director of the NDFEM, briefed the Taoiseach this morning and is keeping him informed about the ongoing preparations.

The National Emergency Coordination Group will meet again tomorrow morning and further guidance will issue following that meeting.

Mr Leonard advised: “We are going to see difficult travel conditions for much of the country in the coming days. Driving conditions will be hazardous, even where roads are gritted – so I urge people to slow down, drive with caution, be aware of other road users and allow extra time for your journey.

“It’s important that drivers travelling longer journeys are aware of conditions right along their route, as the weather may vary significantly across different parts of the country.

"Footpaths can also be extremely hazardous and slippery due to ice so please take extra care while walking.

“Public transport may also be affected by this spell of wintry weather, so I’d advise people to check with service operators for the latest updates in their area.” 

She added: “Cold Weather Initiatives operate across all local authorities to provide additional emergency beds for rough sleepers where needed – ensuring that additional temporary beds can be brought into use across a range of existing services and facilities, for singles and couples who need them during periods of cold weather.

“Finally, I would urge all members of the public to take extra care with all activities and to check out the Met Éireann and Be Winter Ready websites for further updates and advice.”