Updated 19.33
COMMUTERS are enduring chaotic travel conditions this morning as the cold weather continues, with Dublin and the East Coast being hit hardest by the continuing snow.
Though conditions in Dublin city centre are not particularly rough, the continued snowfall all day has made travelling outside of the capital city a torrid task, with massive delays on the M50 and on other main routes.
The lowest temperature of the day so far, however, has been outside the capital – Met Éireann’s automated station at Ballyhaise in Co Cavan reported a temperature of -12°C at 6pm this evening.
The N11 road from Dublin to Wexford remains closed after two lorries jackknived near the Beehive pub in Coolbeg, Co Wicklow, while main roads elsewhere in the country are also seeing major mobility problems.
Many roads remain impassible, however, as local authorities try desperately to ration salt supplies before new supplies from Turkey arrive in Cork tomorrow evening.
Dublin Bus will cease services on all routes tonight from 10pm, though Irish Rail and Luas services say they will continue operating all trains – albeit with heavy delays.
Bus Éireann will also stop many services from 9pm, and reports heavy disruption on many routes. While it remains operational, Dublin Bus will also have significantly curtailed routes.
Dublin Airport remains closed until at least 8pm as crews battle to clear the main runway of snow and ice, though authorities are pessimistic about keeping the runway clear from that point given the continued snowfall since the current suspension began at 3:45pm.
Snowfall in the rest of the country has also continued, with conditions on even the main roads particularly treacherous.
Met Éireann has issued a fresh severe weather warning, forecasting further continuing snowfall in Leinster and counties on the east coast, with thundery weather expected tomorrow morning.
Overnight snowfall will be between 2 and 4 inches in the east, Met Éireann said, while Munster will also see some snow showers.
Up-to-date weather and transport information can be found on the following websites:
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