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Snow in Claremorris, Co Mayo this morning Damhnait White
As it happened

As it happened: Snow and rain impacted transport and power across West, Midlands and South-West

Here’s how the morning played out in affected areas.
6.54am, 21 Nov 2024
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LAST UPDATE | 21 Nov

MOTORISTS, OTHER ROAD users and public transport were all impacted by wintry weather across the West, Midlands and South-West this morning. 

Updates were from Mairead Maguire and Daragh Brophy.

21 Nov 7:06AM

Good morning, 

We’re starting to get reports of impassable roads, trees down and spot flooding in places after snow, sleet and rain swept in from the west yesterday. 

The wintry weather left significant parts of the country untouched, but transport is expected to be affected in the areas that were hit by the snow. 

There are yellow warnings in place across the country. 

Orange warnings are in place in these areas: 

Status Orange – Snow-Ice warning for Clare, Limerick, Tipperary, Galway

  • Significant snowfall accumulations expected.
  • Very difficult travelling conditions
  • Poor visibility
  • Travel disruption
  • Disruption and delays to public transport
  • likely (air, rail, bus)
  • Difficult conditions underfoot
  • Animal welfare issues

Status Orange – Snow and Rain warning for Cork, Waterford

  • Heavy rain transitioning to sleet and snow.
  • Very difficult travelling conditions
  • Poor visibility
  • Travel disruption
  • Disruption and delays to public transport
  • likely (air, rail, bus)
  • Difficult conditions underfoot
  • Animal welfare issues
  • Flooding possible
21 Nov 7:07AM

21 Nov 7:16AM

Met Éireann’s Siobhán Ryan has given an update on Radio 1′s Morning Ireland just now. 

The wintery showers are transitioning from snow to sleet over the south of Munster at the moment, with some large pools of water on roads as a result. 

While it’s been dry across the northern half of the country, there is lying snow in the Midlands, West and South Midlands. 

While snow may remain in place this afternoon, the wintry showers will die out and we’re in for a cold clear day in many areas, Ryan said. 

21 Nov 7:19AM

Some cancellations of Bus Éireann routes: 

Route 419
06:40 Galway to Oughtergard – Terminated in Moycullen
07:20 Oughterard to Galway- Commenced in Moycullen

Route: 22
07:00 Dublin to Ballina – Cancelled

Route 440
06:35 Athlone to Westport – will operate to Castlerea
06:55 Westport to Athlone – Cancelled

Route 336
06:05 Doonbeg to Ennis – Cancelled
07:05 Doonbeg to Ennis – Cancelled

Route 333
07:20 Kilkee to Ennis – Cancelled

A number of other routes are also cancelled or terminating early – you can find details here.

21 Nov 7:21AM

Most Irish Rail services are running as normal, with a few exceptions. 

21 Nov 7:35AM

There’s been a number of crashes in areas affected by the wintry weather this morning. 

Vehicles involved in a collision on the M6/N6 between J16 (Louthrea) and J17 (Athenry) have now been moved to the hard shoulder. 

There’s also disruption on the same route between junctions 14 and 15, following a crash. 

Meanwhile, Irish Rail staff are still working to get that Dublin train out of the station at Westport.

Here’s why: 

21 Nov 7:40AM

There are reports of diversions in place on the N59 between Moycullen and Oughterard after a truck jackknifed at Rosscahill. 

21 Nov 7:49AM

Was your area affected by the wintry weather? 

Please send your photos to pictures@thejournal.ie. 

21 Nov 8:21AM

Down south, alongside icy conditions, there are fears of flooding.

Cork County Council last night gritted roads. You can find a map of the routes covered at this link.

It warned that while priority routes have been treated, conditions remain hazardous even where roads are gritted.

21 Nov 8:27AM
Power outages in Mayo

The weather has caused widespread power outages across Mayo. An estimated 4000 customers are affected.

Mid West Radio has an area-by-area breakdown.

Swinford – 1274 customers affected
Knockaphunta (Castlebar) – 1258
Clifden – 931
Achill – 248
Westport – 76
Kiltimagh – 74
Cloonfad – 34
Knock – 32
Glenhest – 27
Ballaghaderreen – 25

For updates on power outages and estimated restoration times, check out ESB Power Check. 

21 Nov 8:37AM

Mayo County Council has warned drivers of overhead cables hanging low.

21 Nov 8:40AM

Iarnród Éireann has issued an update on Banteer Station. Services should resume shortly.

21 Nov 8:51AM
Snowy snaps

We asked readers to send their photos of this morning’s wintery weather, and they didn’t dissapoint!

If you have a snowy snap you want to share, you can send it to us at pictures@thejournal.ie 

Eric Hennelly Flanagan in Foxford, Co Mayo 

Damhait White in Claremorris, Co Mayo

Dawn’s “winter wonderland” in Kilcummin, Killarney, Co Kerry

Helen Cusack in Westport, Co Mayo

Karen Usher in Inagh, Co Clare

21 Nov 8:57AM

My colleague Diarmuid Pepper has the latest on power outages:

Thousands of people are without power this morning due to the snow.

Across Mayo, 1,274 customers are without power in Swinford, and the ESB said it is hoping to get power restored here as soon as possible.

Some 1,258 customers are also without power in Castlebar, 248 in Achill, 115 in Kiltimagh, 76 in Westport and 27 in Newport.

There are also power outages across other counties, with 2,629 customers impacted in Abbeyfeale in Limerick, near the border with Kerry.

And across Clare, some 441 customers are without powers in Ennistymon, 475 are without power in Kilkee, and a further 475 are impacted in Kilrush.

Meanwhile, 320 are without power in MacDonagh in Kilkenny and in Galway, 112 customers are without power in Athenry, and 30 are without power in Roscommon’s Ballaghaderreen.

21 Nov 9:00AM

The weather has also impacted some local radio stations that are being used by people to keep up with the weather.

Midwest Radio in Co Mayo has reported that some of its frequencies are down due to the weather.

21 Nov 9:03AM

Iarnród Éireann is still reporting disruptions to multiple services. Here’s the update as of 9am.

21 Nov 9:49AM

Cork County Council’s Severe Weather Assessment Team met this morning amid the Status Orange weather warning, which remains in place until midday. 

In a statement, it said: “Heavy rain overnight has transitioned to sleet and snow leading to dangerous driving conditions across the county. The worst affected areas include Newmarket, Rockchapel, Charleville, Mitchelstown, Macroom, Millstreet and Coachford.

“Council crews carried out pre-emptive gritting overnight and have been repeating salting and gritting since early this morning. Snow ploughs have also been deployed where required and crews are progressing on a priority basis.

“Motorists are being urged to drive with extreme care even on roads that have been gritted. Hazardous driving conditions may persist throughout the day.”

Issues with roads can be reported to your local Council Office, which can be found on www.corkcoco.ie.

21 Nov 10:14AM

We’re wrapping up our liveblog for the day, folks. Here’s the latest:

  • There is a Status Orange snow and ice warning in place in Clare, Tipperary and Limerick. This will be in place until midday.
  • There is a Status Orange snow and rain warning covering Cork and Waterford.
  • Meanwhile, all of Munster, as well as Carlow, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois, Longford, Offaly, Westmeath, Wexford, Wicklow, Galway, Mayo, and Roscommon have a Status Yellow snow and ice warning covering them.
  • Thousands of people are still without power, with Co Mayo particularly impacted. You can find the latest on outages and restoration times at ESB Power Check.
  • Trains disrupted are slowly getting back up and running. For upodates, follow @IrishRail on X.
  • Met Éireann has also just issued a nationwide Status Yellow low temperature warning until midday tomorrow.

Big thanks to those who sent in photos of their snowy surrounds.

Drive safe!

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