Snow ploughs deployed on 'treacherous' roads in Cork as temperatures plummet

Cork County Council has said that snow ploughs have been deployed to areas across North Cork as Met Éireann issues a second status yellow low temperature and ice warning for more than 20 counties.

The national forecaster issued the first warning on Friday, impacting the counties of Cork, Clare, Kerry, Limerick, Tipperary, Carlow, Dublin, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois, Longford, Meath, Offaly, Westmeath, Wexford, and Wicklow, warning of temperatures falling between -2 and -5 degrees across yesterday and today.

This warning came into effect at 5pm on Sunday and will stay in place until 11am this morning, with impacts including sharp or severe frost, icy stretches, black ice and treacherous travelling conditions.

A second status yellow low temperature and ice warning for all of Munster, Leinster, Cavan, Monaghan, Galway, and Roscommon, will then come into effect from 11am today and will remain in place until 9am tomorrow.

Possible impacts include temperatures falling to between -1 and -3 degrees, with sharp frost, icy stretches, black ice and treacherous travelling conditions.

Cork County Council has said that crews were out treating all P1 and P2 routes overnight, with P3 routes being treated throughout today, and snow ploughs deployed to P1 and P2 locations across North Cork.

Motorists are advised to avoid unnecessary journeys, and if they must travel, they are advised to drive with extreme care as there is high probability for icy stretches, and black ice throughout the county, even on treated roadways.

Driving conditions may be poor around the country this morning.

To help drive safely on these icy roads, allow extra time to get to your destination, drive slower than usual and exercise caution on the road.

For more advice, see here: https://t.co/gbRIO0v2nP#DriveSafe pic.twitter.com/49G23GnEs6

— An Garda Síochána (@GardaTraffic) January 5, 2026

According to posts on social media, icy conditions have been reported on a number of roads throughout Midleton, Carrigaline, and Wilton, with collisions reported across other locations such as the Lee Road, the Clonmel Road and the L2455.

Pedestrians and cyclists have also been advised to exercise extreme caution as footpaths and other untreated surfaces could be treacherous.

A spokesperson for Cork County Council has said that people are advised to prepare for this period of severe weather by ensuring their mobile phone is fully charged to enable communication and is taken with them on all journeys, and in case of an emergency, dial 999 or 112.

Cork City Council has defined salting routes which prioritise main traffic routes, bus routes and other areas such as those adjacent to hospitals and schools for winter maintenance season.

Bridges are also salted especially in the City Centre in areas of greatest pedestrian movement.

You can see Cork City Council's salting routes here: Salting maps.

In Cobh, the Cobh Connect bus services has been cancelled until 9am, while Bunscoil Rinn an Chabhlaigh will not open until 11am.

A number of other Cork schools exercised later start times this morning due to the icy conditions, with many opening at the later time of 10:30am.

Due to health and safety concerns over extremely icy conditions, Cork City Council has advised that the Tramore Valley Park civic amenity site will remain closed for the rest of the day due to dangerous underfoot conditions.

In Cork County Civic Amenity Sites scheduled to be opened today will be closed until 13.30 at the earliest.

More to follow.