Weather improves slightly but caution is still the keyword

Donegal, like the rest of the country, is still under a Status Yellow Ice Warning so caution is advised on roads today.

The snow has stopped falling but low overnight temperatuires mean there will be many icy stretches leading to hazardous travelling conditions.

A number of primary and secondary schools have notified parents that many schools will reopen today but urge caution for anyone who has to make any sort of journey to get there.

Donegal County Council's road gritting fleet has been out since 5am but no one should assume every road is ice-free.

Met Éireann says scattered showers of rain and sleet, mainly across the north and north-west will clear through the morning.

Mostly dry weather will follow for the rest of the day with good sunny spells, although some mist and fog may set in across the south-west later.

It will be another cold day with highest temperatures of just 1 to 5 degrees in mostly near calm conditions, fresher in the north and north-west.

As we all know by now the unique hazards presented by this week’s harsh weather have seen cars and lorries slide off roads, schools, businesses and reactional activities shut down or postponed and most of our routines upended.

The snow and ice blanket covering the countryside has been affecting travel, farming and work since early Monday morning and depending on what part of the county you are in, wintry showers, freezing rain, fog, flooding and black ice conditions have hampered life in general.

Pedestrians have also had to contend with icy footpaths and roads with no provision for walkers.

A status yellow ice warning has been issued and is due to last until midday today.

The Tuesday morning Dublin flight from Donegal Airport at Carrickfinn was delayed for three and a half hours as snow and ice covered the runway. Staff had to work from 6.30am that morning to finally get it cleared.

A majority of creches, playschools national and secondary schools all over the county were forced to close at some stage over the past few days with classes going online in some cases to get around the problem.

As mentioned, the council's road gritting fleet of lorries has also been out day and night since Monday to ensure the major routes are treated.

They have covered over 1,140 km of public roads with 21 designated routes being treated on an ongoing basis since the weekend.

Many secondary routes and stretches of smaller country roads have gone untouched leading to hazardous travelling conditions in many rural areas but a council spokesman said its outdoor crews are also dealing with local issues on sections of the public road not on the gritting programme.

“The current spell of wintry conditions is expected to last until Friday morning and our Winter Service Engineer will be using specialised forecasting tools and real-time information, along with input from our local staff, to determine the appropriate treatment type and frequency until this weather passes.

“Road temperatures around the county are likely to remain close to or below freezing in the coming days, therefore, any snow, sleet, or rain that falls is likely to freeze causing hazardous driving conditions in particular on untreated surfaces,” the spokesman added.

Full details of Donegal County Council’s extensive gritting programme can be found on the website here:https://donegal.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=6c6e14762485409cbf66df0c69cbd8f2 and updates on gritting are posted on its various social media channels.

The public can also sign up to www.maplerter.ie to receive free text updates on when routes are to be gritted in their area.

The council has asked the public to plan ahead for any journeys that they intend to take during this spell of wintry weather, in particular, please consider if your journey is absolutely necessary.

If you must use the car, before you begin your journey consider the following:

- Plan your journey around the roads that are gritted even if this means a long journey given the risks on untreated surfaces

- Put a hi-viz jacket, shovel, boots or wellingtons, extra clothing or a blanket and a flask in the boot of the car, in case you do get stuck or have to abandon the car. You should check your tyres – pressure, tread depth (minimum 1.6 millimetres) and condition.

- Clear your windscreen and ensure all your windows are clean and free from snow and bring a scraper and de-icer with you. Snow left on the roof will become loose and can drop onto the windscreen during braking, thereby causing sudden and severe restriction to your vision.

- Top up your windscreen wash with one that is resistant to low temperatures as spray from roads can obstruct your vision and if your windscreen wash freezes you won’t be able to keep your windscreen clear.

- Check your lights and indicators as falling snow reduces visibility. Make sure your mobile phone is fully charged. If your car has rear-wheel drive the addition of extra weight in the boot, such as a bag of sand or cement, will help your wheels to grip.

- It takes longer to stop a vehicle in snow or on icy roads so slow down and allow extra distance between you and the vehicle in front. Manoeuvre gently and avoid harsh braking, acceleration or steering as these can induce a skid.

- Going uphill use the highest gear possible to reduce the engine revs as this will help avoid wheel spin. When travelling downhill, especially through a series of bends, select a low gear as early as possible and allow your speed to reduce using the brake pedal gently.

- If planning an unavoidable journey on foot pedestrians should be extremely careful as snow and ice can make walking on roads or footpaths very dangerous.

- Wear sturdy footwear with good gripping soles.

- Take an extra look before you cross the road and do not attempt to cross the road if there are vehicles around as snow and ice increase the distance that they need to stop. Visibility is reduced in snowy conditions so wear high-visibility clothing or carry a torch.

- Motorcyclists and cyclists should consider their safety before using their motorcycles/bicycles in icy and snowy conditions. Controlling two-wheeled vehicles in snowy or icy conditions is extremely difficult and there is an increased danger of a collision with a vehicle that is out of control. Consider taking alternative transport or walking.