Snow blower.

Status orange weather warning remains in place

Friday:

The status red warning has been downgraded to a status orange snow-ice warning in counties Cavan, Monaghan, Donegal, Leitrim, Mayo, Roscommon and Sligo, although those counties can still expect scattered heavy snow showers and icy conditions throughout the day on Friday.

The updated warning, issued at midnight on Thursday, remains in effect until 6pm.

16.30pm: **UPDATE** from Bus Éireann who have moved advise customers that due to a Status Red weather warning all road passenger, school transport and Eurolines services remain cancelled today Thursday, March 1.

Based on updated weather warnings from Met Éireann, the company will not operate any services in Leinster and Munster tomorrow, Friday 2nd March. All Expressway inter-city services nationwide will also not operate.

We apologise for any inconvenience to customers but road conditions will have to be assessed and safety is our priority.

Given the reduced weather warning for Connacht, and parts of the West and Northwest, we may be able to operate some services in less affected areas tomorrow.

However, this is very much subject to local road conditions and the level of treatment undertaken.

We will review this situation in the morning and provide further information around midday with a view to a possible resumption of some services in the late afternoon or evening.

We will provide a further update in relation to the operation of scheduled services from Saturday morning.

15:45pm: Department of Heritage have announced, that in light of the Status Red weather warning for all counties issued by Met Éireann, all National Parks and Nature Reserves throughout the country are now closed to the public.

The safety of both our visitors and staff is of paramount importance to the Department and the National Parks and Wildlife Service. Snow may mask normal trail markers and routes leading to more dangerous walking conditions with ice increasing the likelihood of slips, trips and falls. We would encourage people to respect the closure of these sites and avoid making unnecessary journeys to our National Parks and Nature Reserves.

15:15pm: Snow affecting the start of the tourism season in the region. Due to the current and forecast adverse weather conditions over the coming days, we regret to inform you that the Marble Arch Caves and Visitor Centre is currently closed and that the guided tours of the Marble Arch Caves on Saturday 3 and Sunday 4 March 2018, as part of the Discover Fermanagh Open Weekend, have been cancelled.

The Marble Arch Caves and Visitor Centre will remain closed until further notice.

13.35pm: Gardaí are advising motorist and all road users to use caution on our roads.

Leave sufficient room between you and the car in front and drive within a speed where you can stop in time.

Blizzard conditions will develop from the south Thursday afternoon and evening as heavy snow and strong easterly winds bring snow drifts northwards over the country. Eastern and southern costal counties will be worst affected.

Valid from 23.00hrs Wednesday to 15.00hrs Friday the 2nd of March

13.25pm: Bus Èireann's message to customers from earlier today. They wish to advise that all road passenger and school transport services are cancelled today Thursday, March 1 due to a nationwide Status Red weather warning.

This includes school transport services, our nationwide network & Eurolines services. We will review the situation for tomorrow later on today, but significant disruption is likely then too. All school transport services will remain off in accordance with our red alert policy.

Please see www.buseireann.ie for updates, Twitter @buseireann and @ExpresswayIRE or call 1850 836611.

13:00pm: Forecasters predict the nation is to be hit with blizzard like conditions with zero visability later tonight which will extend countrywide. Heavier snow expected in from the south east with thunderstorms/hail over Munster and south Leinster. Gale force with risk of coastal flooding expected.

Everyone across the country has been advised to stay indoors from 4pm today due to Storm Emma/Beast fom the East. Remember to check in on elderly and vulnerable neighbours.

For further updates see www.gov.ie#StormEmmaMet Éireann

11:44am: All HSE Community Outpatient and Day Care Service appointments across Community Healthcare Organisation Area 1 Cavan, Donegal, Leitrim, Monaghan and Sligo are cancelled for today (Thursday) March 1 and Friday March 2 due to the red status weather warning. 

11:18am: Cavan County Council has issued an update in light of Met Éireann extending its status red now and ice warning nationwide.

It reads: 'All parts of the county were affected by heavy snowfall through the night since Met Éireann elevated the weather warning to status red. This warning remains in effect until 3pm Friday.

'Over 500km of roads received a full treatment from 5pm Wednesday and again from 4am Thursday. National routes and other strategic routes are being treated continuously at present, with almost 300 tonnes of salt having been applied in the past 24 hours.

'All national roads are passable but require an extreme amount of driver caution and it is advised that no unnecessary journeys are undertaken.

'Additional stockpiles of grit have been made available to the public at 113 locations countywide. The full list can be viewed here

'DRIVERS SHOULD AT ALL TIMES ASSUME THAT NO ROAD IS ICE FREE, WHETHER IT HAS BEEN TREATED OR NOT.

'All county council offices are closed today, Thursday, 1 March and again tomorrow Friday, including all branches of Cavan County Library Service, Cavan County Museum and the Bridge Street Centre.

'Essential services will continue to operate during this time. Cavan County Council’s emergency out of hours emergency number is 087 611 8116. This is for council-related emergencies only, and 999 or 112 should still be used to contact the rescue and emergency services.

'Chief Executive of Cavan County Council Mr Tommy Ryan has urged the public to heed the warnings of Met Éireann and the Office for Emergency Planning and remain indoors for the duration of the snow storm, which will move up through the country throughout Thursday.

“These warnings are there for a reason, and in this case, prevention is certainly better than cure. I implore the people of Cavan to remain indoors after 4pm Thursday and to consult the winterready.ie website for details on how to cope with the prevailing weather conditions.

“I would also like to convey my appreciation to the frontline council staff operating under difficult conditions, working to keep the public safe,” said Mr Ryan.

Useful telephone numbers

ESB: 1850 372 999

Irish Water Supply: 1850 278 278

Gas Networks: 1850 205 050

Rescue Services: 999 or 112

Council emergency number: 087 611 8116.

Watch

Virginia in the snow this morning

 

8:30am

Met Éireann has extended its Red Alert snow and ice warning to ALL counties. It was issued at 11pm last night (Wednesday) and will be valid until 3pm on Friday. As a result ALL schools in the country and third level institutions will remain closed until Monday. The courts service and Ulster Bank have also said that they will remain closed until Monday so there will be no court sittings and branches will be closed.

The warning from the national weather forecaster reads: 'Further heavy snow showers will bring accumulations of significant levels with all areas at risk.

'Blizzard conditions will develop from the south Thursday afternoon and evening as heavy snow and strong easterly winds bring snow drifts northwards over the country. Eastern and southern coastal counties will be worst affected.'

Yesterday, Storm Emma has forced the closure of many schools and businesses across County Cavan. Scroll down for latest closures.

There will be no bus services running from the Cavan depot tomorrow (Thursday).

Wharton Coaches has also advised: "Due to the adverse weather conditions the C2 Cavan Ballinagh service will not run at 5.45 this evening. 
Route 975 Cavan Longford is running as normal but services may be cancelled this evening if necessary.
Please note there will be no services running tomorrow Thursday, March 1st. Updates will be provided as available. Thank you to all our passengers for your patience and keep safe."


Cavan County Council workers have made additional supplies of grit/salt mix available at locations. Check: http://www.cavancoco.ie/Default.aspx?StructureID_str=255&guid=2232
 

A spokesperson from the local authority said: "We're not expecting the worst to hit until Thursday night, but that may change. In any case, treacherous driving conditions can be expected on all routes, not just those that have not been treated."

The south and east of the county has been worst affected thus far, and snow plough and gritters have been out this afternoon in Bailieborough-Cootehill MD and BJD-Virginia MD. There will be a full treatment of 520km of salting routes (http://www.cavancoco.ie/current-salting-routes.htm) at 6pm. "This process takes time so  we would ask the public to be patient and drive with caution and only if necessary," urged the council spokesperson.

Householders and motorists are also being advised to check winteready.ie for comprehensive advice on how to see out the storm.

EMERGENCY NUMBER

The council's out of hours emergency number 087 611 8116, however this is strictly for council-emergencies only and should not be used to reach the emergency services or for non-emergency calls.

CLOSED

Erne Motor Works Cavan: "We are closed today and tomorrow, we will be opening Saturday morning from 10am as normal providing weather is improved .. if you have an emergency you can contact our recovery service on 0872522890 if he is able to assist you he will... Stay safe everybody.
Also Belturbet Car Sales are closing from 1pm today Thursday until 9am Monday Morning... stay safe everybody.'

Wilton Waste has said: "Scrap yard and offices closed and no wheelie bin, skip or scrap collections until Monday, March 5 (weather permitting)."

Libraries - Ballyconnell, Bailieborough and Virginia.
Station Road Mart, Cootehill

For the health and safety of the general public, the three civic amenity sites at Corranure, Ballyconnell and Bailieborough will be closed this Thursday, March 1 and Friday, March 2.

Terra Ltd, Bailieborough, closed until Monday

SCHOOLS CLOSED

ALL schools and third level colleges in Cavan and nationwide will remain closed until Monday after Met Éireann extended its status red snow and ice warning to the entire country.

Coláiste Dún an Rí, Kingscourt, closed until Monday at least

Lacken NS

Killygarry NS

Drumkilly NS, closed until Monday

St Mary's NS, Arva, closed until Monday

Loreto College, Cavan

St Felim's Boys School, Cavan, closed until Tuesday

St Anne's NS, Bailieborough, closed until Monday

Bailieborough Community School, closed until Monday

St Pat's College, Cavan

Kildallon NS

Mullahoran National School will remain closed until Monday.

Virginia College is closed.

St Patrick's NS, Shercock.

St Kilian's NS, Mullagh.

St Clare's NS, Cavan Town, closed until Tuesday.

Little Friends Creche & Montessori

Happy Days Childcare Services Belturbet will be closed until Monday.

 

EVENTS CANCELLED

Mullahoran's CCÉ's Trad Fest weekend of events, including the Battle of the Bands, have been postponed until further notice.

Ballinagh woman’s group trip to Ramor theater tomorrow night (Fri) cancelled
Bruskey ICA art class Thursday cancelled

Senior Scor in Killeshandra has been rescheduled to Friday, February 9, in Gowna

Bingo in Oldcastle

Bingo in Killeshandra

Weight Watchers in the Farnham Arms, Cavan

Kingscourt Band Bingo and Lotto on Thursday

Ballroom Dancing Errigal House Hotel

The Remember Joe Dolan Show in the Hotel Kilmore, Cavan, has been rescheduled to March 14

Bailieborough Craft Group on Friday.

Maudabawn game tasting evening in Gallonray House on Saturday has been postponed
Fridays Official Opening of Clones Town Heritage Trail and Linear Park  has been cancelled until further notice.