Carlow County Council have attended an online National Co-ordination meeting with the National Directorate for Fire & Emergency Management and Met Éireann this morning, subsequently Carlow County Council’s Severe Weather Assessment Team have met again and the Severe Weather Response Plan has been activated. Further meetings, briefings and updates will continue throughout the period of severe weather.
Carlow County Council have established a Severe Weather Event Control Centre to receive, handle and manage calls from the Public during this severe weather event. The Severe Weather Event Control Centre will be open from 09:00 – 17:00. The contact number is 059 9170302 and the email address to report to the centre is weatheremergency@carlowcoco.ie Any urgent need to contact Carlow County Council staff during out of office hours must be made through the out of hours assistance phone number 059 9170300.
Updated public safety messaging:
- Wintry showers may continue tonight 06/01/25 and tomorrow 07/01/25.
- Very cold daytime and extremely cold night-time low temperatures from tonight 06/01/25 to Friday 10/01/25.
- Freezing fog may effect Co Carlow from tomorrow Tuesday 07/01/25 to Thursday 09/01/25.
- Upon expiration of any weather warning and/or advisory road users should drive with extra care and adjust driver behaviour according to local road conditions.
- All disruptions to HSE services are on the hse.ie homepage and it is being regularly updated on HSE social media channels https://www.hse.ie
- Take extra care and due diligence while walking: footpaths even those which have been cleared and/or salted can be extremely hazardous/slippery due to ice.
- Please check with Transport For Ireland for updates on public transport operations and networks https://www.transportforireland.ie/ and local transport operators for their latest updates.
- Those travelling by air over the week should allow plenty of time for their journey. Passengers seeking updates regarding specific flights should contact their airline directly.
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Weather conditions will be disruptive for travel throughout the warning timeframes. Wintery showers, sleet, snow and icy surfaces can make driving conditions hazardous, especially for the more vulnerable road users, e.g., cyclists, pedestrians, motorcyclists and high sided vehicles. Driving conditions will be hazardous, even where roads are gritted, slow down, drive with caution, be aware of other road users and allow extra time for your journey. Cyclists need to exercise extreme caution during this cold weather spell. While key routes are being gritted, cycle routes may not have been gritted. The public should note that local conditions will vary across the country and consider those conditions. Any necessary journeys should be planned carefully in advance of setting out. People travelling long journeys should check weather/ road conditions not just where they are starting from, but at their destination and along the route, as conditions may vary significantly. Further road safety advice can be found at www.rsa.ie with specific advice about driving in snow/ice found below:
- Carlow County Council winter maintenance plan and salting routes are available here
- Upon expiration of any weather warning and/or advisory road users should drive with extra care and adjust driver behaviour according to local road conditions.
- Road users and pedestrians should pay particular attention to any fallen trees, fallen wires and/or service carrying poles e.g. ESB. Always stay safe and stay clear of electricity lines and wires as these are live and therefore dangerous. You can report any damage to ESB Networks by contacting our emergency phone number: 1800 372 999/021 238 2410 (24 hours/7 days). ESB power check service can be accessed to report and/or ascertain power outages in your area.
Carlow County Council Weather Warning & Advisory:
Potential impacts:
Wintry showers will bring further accumulation of snow
Very cold nights with widespread frost, ice and lying snow. Temperatures struggling to get above freezing during the day.
• Hazardous travelling conditions on roads/footpaths and underfoot
• Travel disruption
• Hazardous travelling conditions
• Poor visibility
Met Éireann has issued Warnings & Advisories for Co Carlow:
STATUS YELLOW WEATHER WARNING
• Travel disruption Weather that does not pose a threat to the general population but is potentially dangerous on a localised scale.
Be aware about meteorological conditions and check if you are exposed to danger by nature of your activity or your specific location. Do not take any avoidable risks
STATUS YELLOW – SNOW – ICE WARNING FOR IRELAND – UPDATED = 12:00 Monday 06/01/2025 to 12:00 Tuesday 07/01/2025
Wintry showers will bring further accumulation of snow
• Hazardous travelling conditions
• Poor visibility
STATUS YELLOW - LOW TEMPERATURE - WARNING FOR IRELAND – UPDATED = 17:00 Sunday 05/01/2025 to 00:00 Friday 10/01/2025
Very cold nights with widespread frost, ice and lying snow. Temperatures struggling to get above freezing during the day.
• Hazardous travelling conditions on roads and underfoot
• Travel disruption
Public Safety Information - protective actions advised:
- Carlow County Council's Homeless Services operates an extended Cold Weather Protocol from November 1st, 2024 to March 31st, 2025. With the assistance of funding provided by the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and in accordance with the Regional Homeless Action Plan, Carlow County Council is operating a cold weather initiative for anyone that is homeless and rough sleeping. This scheme operates throughout the winter period and any person that is rough sleeping may contact Carlow County Council to avail of an overnight bed during the winter period. Anyone that is rough sleeping should make contact with homeless services by email to homeless@carlowcoco.ie or during office hours phone 059 9172496 . After office hours phone 059 9170300. If any member of the public sees a person rough sleeping they may report this and a member of the homeless services team will investigate. The homeless team will also actively carry out patrols in the Town areas and make contact with homeless people at risk during extreme weather. Further information can be found here Homelessness Support | Carlow Co Co
- Carlow County Council have established a Severe Weather Event Control Centre open from 09:00 hrs to 17:00 hrs in response to the severe weather, contact number is 059-9170302 and the email address to report to the centre is weatheremergency@carlowcoco.ie
- Check on elderly, vulnerable and isolated neighbours.
- All disruptions to HSE services are on the hse.ie homepage and it is being regularly updated on HSE social media channels https://www.hse.ie
- People are advised to prepare for the arrival of the wintry conditions including ensuring their mobile phone is fully charged to enable communication. In an emergency dial 999 or 112.
- The Be Winter Ready website https://www.gov.ie/en/campaigns/aa78b9-be-winter-ready provides further advice on preparing for severe weather.
- Please check with Transport For Ireland for updates on public transport operations and networks https://www.transportforireland.ie/ and local transport operators for their latest updates.
- Those travelling by air over the week should allow plenty of time for their journey. Passengers seeking updates regarding specific flights should contact their airline directly.
- Take extra care and due diligence while walking: footpaths even those which have been cleared and/or salted can be extremely hazardous/slippery due to ice.
- Monitor Met Éireann forecasts and/or visit https://www.met.ie/ for the most up to date information. Information is available across social media platforms and other news media sources.
- ESB Emergency Services can be contacted at 1800 372 999. The public can monitor www.PowerCheck.ie.
- Uisce Éireann Customers can check their website and social media channels for updates and to get in touch with any issues or concerns via our 24/7 customer care centre at 1800 278 278. People can also sign up online to free text alert system to get regular updates about their local supplies - see www.water.ie.
- People are advised to conserve water, and visit https://www.water.ie for advice.
- Advice for Air to Water heating systems during cold weather: -
- The top temperature setting should be maintained at 18 to 21 Degrees, regardless of the temperature outside. This is the most efficient and sustainable temperature. If it is set any higher the property will never get up to 24 or 25 degrees and the outdoor unit will likely freeze over or fault out as it is constantly running.
- Depending on personal preference turn the stats down at night to a maximum of 12 to 15 Degrees. If they are left at the high temperature the outdoor unit will be running all night in very low temperatures. Apart from the inefficiency, it will be producing condensate that will freeze and eventually clog up the unit.
- Farmers are advised to take all precautions when dealing with livestock and possibly working alone.
- The Public are advised to stay away from areas of high ground where there may be significant accumulations of snowfall and be inaccessible such as Mt. Leinster. The L-3005-23 road from Carroll’s Cross to Tomduff at the Nine Stones will be closed from 14:00 hrs Saturday 04/01/25 until the period of severe weather ends. Local access will be available from Tomduff side only.
Contact Details:
The contact number for Carlow County Council Out of Hours Assistance for Local Authority services of an urgent nature is 059 9170300.
A Severe Weather Event Control Centre will be established in response to the severe weather alert open 09:00 – 17:00 hrs - 059 9170302 and the email address to report to the centre is weatheremergency@carlowcoco.ie .
Other advise & emergency contact details include:
Fire/An Garda Síochána/National Ambulance Service 999/112,
Water and Wastewater (Irish Water) 1800 278 278
ESB 1800 372 999
Gas Networks Ireland 1800 205 050
Transport For Ireland https://www.transportforireland.ie/
The Road Safety Authority www.rsa.ie
All disruptions to HSE services are on the hse.ie homepage and it is being regularly updated on HSE social media channels https://www.hse.ie
Met Éireann Weather Warning:
Leinster - Met Éireann - The Irish Meteorological Service https://www.met.ie/leinster-forecast.html
Warnings & Advisories - Met Éireann - The Irish Meteorological Service https://www.met.ie/warnings-today.html
Weather warnings explanation - Met Éireann - The Irish Meteorological Service https://www.met.ie/weather-warnings