Severe Winter Weather: ESSENTIAL PREPARATIONS, TRAVEL ADVICE, DRIVING TIPS & CLOSURES

An Ri rua · 28-02-2018 02:27PM

Patww79 wrote: »

This post has been deleted.

'Leinster' is a big location. You must have been a busy bee getting around that acreage on your summer tyres

Snowed heavily 3 times since 9am in North Laois. That is on top of up to 4" of dry snow that, when it compacts, is lethally slippy.

But clearly its very sunny times too. Both white eyed fear and bull**** bravado are sickening, IMO. A modicum of common sense cuts both ways in its applicability.

Edit. Snowed 4 times now......

OldMrBrennan83 · 28-02-2018 02:30PM

This post has been deleted.

An Ri rua · 28-02-2018 02:31PM

Patww79 wrote: »

This post has been deleted.

As would I.

QED.

Rockfish · 28-02-2018 02:34PM

I see Ryanair cancelled all fights today form Dublin. Im in a dilema, have a flight at 6.30am tomorrow morning, i had intended to go to Dublin tonight and go to airport anyway, if its cancelled however i have no way back to Mayo as buses and trains will be off. Im preusming if its cancelled ill be refunded in full?

OldMrBrennan83 · 28-02-2018 02:35PM

This post has been deleted.

spookwoman · 28-02-2018 02:40PM

https://twitter.com/aaroadwatch/status/968843171911348224

sdanseo · 28-02-2018 02:42PM

Patww79 wrote: »

This post has been deleted.

Was -4 in Dublin last night and it'll be anything down to -7 tonight. There'll be absolutely no problem with sticking.

Popoutman · 28-02-2018 02:47PM

Patww79 wrote: »

No point in them for a few days a year. Just get really good normal tyres.

Get very good all season tyres, fits the bill perfectly for our conditions. We get plenty of weather below 7 degrees, and the summer doesn't go above 30 degrees. Make sure the tyres have the snowflake symbol.

Harry Palmr · 28-02-2018 02:47PM

Is anyone clearing snow from the pavement outside their house? I'm not and for good reason, I think snow is much more obvious than black ice which is created when a thin layer of snow moisture on the pavement refreezes so I'm leaving it.

SarahS2013 · 28-02-2018 02:48PM

jc11 wrote: »

Have to get to work tomorrow night (midwife) usually takes 15 min drive to get to work (Dublin) or else a 25 min walk.. have to be in work for 8pm, considering the weather warning would I be safer to drive or walk do ya think?

Will be returning home around 8am Fri morning

Not sure where you work but I live close to Holles St. Made it from Haddington Rd to Merrion Sq this morning and had to turn back the roads were that bad. I was getting nothing but traction control trying to drive and sliding all over the shop. I'd get your snow boots on and walk if I were you...

gebbel · 28-02-2018 02:49PM

My workplace is shutting down its manufacturing facility in North Dublin at 2pm which means 450 employees across all shifts will not work and a review to be taken tomorrow. I’ll bet that could be it for the next few days. Tomorrow will be worse.

lolo62 · 28-02-2018 02:50PM

There's someone on the radio giving tutorials on interesting sandwich making so people can do something with all the bread they bought

cyclops999 · 28-02-2018 02:51PM

jk23 wrote: »

Hi, thanks for the update on Athlone, is the snow sticking there?

It sure is roads are treacherous with compacted snow, not sure on condition of M6

sdanseo · 28-02-2018 02:54PM

Quick recap (on the only day you'll ever hear me listening to Joe Duffy):

All rail services in Ireland cancelled after 2pm tomorrow
All LUAS services cancelled after 1pm tomorrow
All Dublin Bus services cancelled all day tomorrow
All primary and secondary schoold, colleges, non critical government departments in Leinster and Munster instructed to close tomorrow.
All people in Leinster and Munster told to stay indoors while a red warning is in place, especially from 4pm tomorrow to 12pm Friday. All employers strongly advised to keep this in mind and consider whether they need to open at all.

Gerald Fleming on RTÉ Radio now also. Saying forecast is very clear that this is a significant event.

Reminder that if your employer decides to open and you can't get there, they are entitled to deduct leave. If they close and no work is available, you should be paid.

molly dolly · 28-02-2018 02:55PM

We live on a slope in Wicklow foothills. I couldn't get the car out of the drive way today. Himself got up and harrumped thinking his would do better. My car actually got further up before skidding down. With granite walls on each side we didn't chance it any further. He walked to main road, got a lift, I got picked up as some important stuff going on month end; getting a 4 x 4 for return journey home.

Different world through when you got down to a lower level.

Lumi · 28-02-2018 02:56PM

MOD NOTE

The thread is supposed to be a useful point of information for people looking for updates and advice on travel, closures and preparations they should make, with a bit of banter thrown in.

Theres no need to personalise things or descent into petty bickering.

The forum is incredibly busy and if we're forced to start giving out infractions/bans then we will.

btw, thanks to all of those taking the time to give advice, updates etc

Try_harder · 28-02-2018 02:56PM

On RTE live updates;
****
The Department of Social Welfare has made arrangements with An Post and the banks to provide Friday payments earlier than usual for customers who may need to collect their payment earlier in areas impacted by the severe weather.
Social Welfare payments due on Friday will be available from tomorrow.
It said customers should note that all Friday payments will be also available to collect as normal on Friday 2nd or Saturday 3rd March, or the following week.
****
Please let anyone you know who relies on the money as they may need it to get fuel/supplies over the coming few days of bad weather

Whispered · 28-02-2018 02:56PM

Just wondering at what stage people think we should worry about pipes freezing. Wondering if we need to fill the bath for washing hands, brushing teeth, flushing the toilet etc

Wheety · 28-02-2018 02:59PM

Patww79 wrote: »

This post has been deleted.

My back garden is still full of snow and there's a flurry every now and again. The worse of the weather has not arrived yet.

Harry Palmr · 28-02-2018 03:01PM

Whispered wrote: »

Just wondering at what stage people think we should worry about pipes freezing. Wondering if we need to fill the bath for washing hands, brushing teeth, flushing the toilet etc

I'd not worry, it's not actually very cold (this wind chill will have no impact on mains pipes and the attic) the slow thaw will be starting on Saturday (hell it's thawed a bit today) and there is nothing to suggest a reload of very cold weather. If you are paranoid about it you can fill a bucket but I think it'll be grand.

AdamB · 28-02-2018 03:03PM

sdanseo wrote: »

Reminder that if your employer decides to open and you can't get there, they are entitled to deduct leave. If they close and no work is available, you should be paid.

Have you any link to support this? My work place have told me that I'll have to pay back any time taken over the red warning.

El Weirdo · 28-02-2018 03:05PM

AdamB wrote: »

Have you any link to support this? My work place have told me that I'll have to pay back any time taken over the red warning.

The HSE have told staff that they must take annual leave if they can't come in due to the weather.

no.8 · 28-02-2018 03:14PM

listermint wrote: »

Stop embarrassing yourself, as has been pointed out numerous times in this thread. WE ARE NOT IN EASTERN EUROPE!!

we are a moderate climate and no we should not be equipped to deal with weather extremes.

I gather yourself and that stern chap there would be giving out reems if the government spent 30 million on snow ploughs just to have them sit idle for 7 years at a time.

You are gas, and Stern is even funnier its the likes of him that has lorries jackknifed and cars into ditches making sure 'his' employees turn up to whatever run of the mill job they have. Dont think your special Stern its just a job and you cant take those work memories to the grave with you. Im sure the last breath out of your mouth will be about how hard you worked on the 28th of Feb 2018......

and to go an question peoples work ethic. Yeah good luck buddy, there are far smarter and harder working people than you sitting at home today with their families.

Are you OK there? Read what I wrote again. Do we somehow have different anatomy to those of the Russians, the Finns, the Canadians etc. I CLEARLY SAID WALKING DISTANCE AND TAKING THE BUS. Maybe you should live abroad in a cold country, so you can learn from them. + I am not an employer so thats a worthless reply in my direction.

'we are a moderate climate and no we should not be equipped to deal with weather extremes'
Well thats clearly not true....e.g. Ophelia, general wind storms and now this. Temperature extremes yes, weather extremes no. People in Ireland also live / work at higher altitudes so it's an important topic.

Last note: Clearly, 100% clear as I day.....what did I write about warnings issued by ME. Several people died during Ophelia. Walking outside / driving in hurricane force winds is different to this (driving when the snow stops). Come on now. And calm yourself down.

Irish Steve · 28-02-2018 03:22PM

Been out and about in South Meath this morning, and it's "interesting", in both a good and bad way. I had no significant issues driving, but had to use 4WD on some of the minor roads due to the quantity of snow on the roads. That said, on 3 occasions over the space of a mile, on a minor road near Kilbride, I had to stop for a while, simply because the strength of the wind was picking up the finer powder snow that had fallen, and it was blowing in the wind, resulting in dangerously limited visibility, so limited that it wasn't safe to continue, partly because I know that road, and know that the ditches on the edges are full of water, and deep enough to be dangerous if you go off the road in to them.

It was very easy to get the back of the vehicle to slide if too much power, or braking, or sharp turns were made, but that's what appropriate driving is all about. There are however some complete tools out there, I had to take avoiding action in the town to keep clear of a BMW535 that was slipping and sliding all over the place, due to being inappropriately driven by someone that didn't have a clue how to drive in the conditions.

And yes, before I get people asking why I was out, some of the time, I was standing in for volunteer elderly drivers who had (rightly) decided that they could not do their normal Meals on Wheels deliveries due to the conditions, so I was asked by a friend if I could step in, which was not an issue and I have the vehicle that is suited to the conditions. It was thought provoking to see and meet some of the people who are recipients of the service, especially given the conditions today, and it looks like I could be on call again on Friday, given the forecast conditions for the day.

Depending on the temperatures tomorrow, there is a strong chance that the biggest problem to being on the roads will be the lack of visibility, and that can change in an instant, even more rapidly than fog, so the advice to be off the roads by 4 pm sounds good to me.

The next few days could indeed be challenging.

OldMrBrennan83 · 28-02-2018 03:24PM

This post has been deleted.

An Ri rua · 28-02-2018 03:26PM

spookwoman wrote: »

https://twitter.com/aaroadwatch/status/968843171911348224

Same thing happened on March 27th last year. But about a mile out of Trim on the Longwood Road. I was right behind the artic when it shuddered and keeled over along its length onto its roof. Into a field. Quite a sight to see. Nerve wracking minutes after that as a number of us called ES and tried to see through the blizzard conditions how anyone was or which way was up.
20 miles away, no snow !!

listermint · 28-02-2018 03:26PM

no.8 wrote: »

Are you OK there? Read what I wrote again. Do we somehow have different anatomy to those of the Russians, the Finns, the Canadians etc. I CLEARLY SAID WALKING DISTANCE AND TAKING THE BUS. Maybe you should live abroad in a cold country, so you can learn from them. + I am not an employer so thats a worthless reply in my direction.

'we are a moderate climate and no we should not be equipped to deal with weather extremes'
Well thats clearly not true....e.g. Ophelia, general wind storms and now this. Temperature extremes yes, weather extremes no. People in Ireland also live / work at higher altitudes so it's an important topic.

Last note: Clearly, 100% clear as I day.....what did I write about warnings issued by ME. Several people died during Ophelia. Walking outside / driving in hurricane force winds is different to this (driving when the snow stops). Come on now. And calm yourself down.

no you said sure people in eastern europe who have these conditions all the time, therefore we should be able to cope.

That method of thinking is abundantly flawed , i should not have to point out why il leave that with you.

RandomAccess · 28-02-2018 03:27PM

footpaths, I cleared snow off mine just down to where the public footpath begins. First time I've bothered to do so and will see if it's an improvement or not on what I know from the past.

listermint · 28-02-2018 03:28PM

Harry Palmr wrote: »

Is anyone clearing snow from the pavement outside their house? I'm not and for good reason, I think snow is much more obvious than black ice which is created when a thin layer of snow moisture on the pavement refreezes so I'm leaving it.

but mushed in snow causes ice, its far safer to scrape it up with a shovel.

there would be no black ice if you scrape if with a shovel.

An Ri rua · 28-02-2018 03:29PM

Irish Steve wrote: »

Been out and about in South Meath this morning, and it's "interesting", in both a good and bad way. I had no significant issues driving, but had to use 4WD on some of the minor roads due to the quantity of snow on the roads. That said, on 3 occasions over the space of a mile, on a minor road near Kilbride, I had to stop for a while, simply because the strength of the wind was picking up the finer powder snow that had fallen, and it was blowing in the wind, resulting in dangerously limited visibility, so limited that it wasn't safe to continue, partly because I know that road, and know that the ditches on the edges are full of water, and deep enough to be dangerous if you go off the road in to them.

It was very easy to get the back of the vehicle to slide if too much power, or braking, or sharp turns were made, but that's what appropriate driving is all about. There are however some complete tools out there, I had to take avoiding action in the town to keep clear of a BMW535 that was slipping and sliding all over the place, due to being inappropriately driven by someone that didn't have a clue how to drive in the conditions.

And yes, before I get people asking why I was out, some of the time, I was standing in for volunteer elderly drivers who had (rightly) decided that they could not do their normal Meals on Wheels deliveries due to the conditions, so I was asked by a friend if I could step in, which was not an issue and I have the vehicle that is suited to the conditions. It was thought provoking to see and meet some of the people who are recipients of the service, especially given the conditions today, and it looks like I could be on call again on Friday, given the forecast conditions for the day.

Depending on the temperatures tomorrow, there is a strong chance that the biggest problem to being on the roads will be the lack of visibility, and that can change in an instant, even more rapidly than fog, so the advice to be off the roads by 4 pm sounds good to me.

The next few days could indeed be challenging.

Well done. Anyone who has access to 4wd and hopefully winter tyres (tomorrow) should think about who they can help. I had similar plans here. For geriatric nurses. hadn't thought of Meals on Wheels. Hats off to you

Severe Winter Weather: ESSENTIAL PREPARATIONS, TRAVEL ADVICE, DRIVING TIPS & CLOSURES

Comments