Update 07.01.2025 - 4.30pm
Laois County Council Severe Weather Assessment Team Meeting – 7th January 2025 – Road Safety Message
County Laois is the subject of an Orange Weather Warning for Low Temperature/Ice, from 8pm this evening (Tuesday) until 10am tomorrow (Wednesday).
Severe frost, icy stretches and freezing fog are likely tonight and over the coming days.
Notwithstanding ongoing salting of rostered routes, motorists are urged to exercise caution on the road network, to slow down and to prioritise use of treated roads.
Hazards remain on the road network and those hazards may not be as visible as they were in recent days.
Check fog lights and use them appropriately.
Exercise patience and avoid overtaking.
Update 06.01.2025 - 4.30pm
Following meeting dated Monday 6th January 2025, the Laois County Council Severe Weather Assessment Team notes the following, having regard to prevailing weather conditions.
County Laois is the subject of a Low Temperature Yellow Weather Warning, until midnight on Thursday. As such, road conditions, on untreated roads, footpaths and cycle lanes are likely to be extremely poor and, in places, treacherous, between now and the end of this week. Our advice to motorists is to minimise travel, where possible, and, if that is not possible, to re-organise your normal travel routes with a focus towards the priority, rostered, treated routes. A Map of the priority routes is available here.
Cyclists and Moped-Users are advised to avail of alternative travel options for the next few days.
Pedestrians need to be aware that many footpaths are, and will continue to be, treacherous, over the next few days.
Laois County Council’s Severe Weather Assessment Team urges caution on the transportation network over the coming days. Prevailing conditions will be difficult and extremely difficult in places.
Minimise travel, where you can, and, where you can’t, SLOW DOWN, PRIORITISE TREATED ROUTES, ALLOW EXTRA TIME and BE VISIBLE.
Update 06.01.2025 - 11.30am
The key public safety message:
- Wintry showers and icy surfaces will lead to difficult travel conditions.
- Road 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.
- Drivers travelling longer journeys are advised to be aware of conditions right along their route, as the weather may vary significantly across different parts of the country.
- Public transport may also be affected by this spell of wintry weather; people are advised to check with service operators for the latest updates in their area.
- Take extra care while walking footpaths etc can be extremely hazardous/slippery due to ice.
- Check on elderly, vulnerable and isolated neighbours.
- Keep your phone charged and take it with you on all journeys. 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.
- People are advised to prepare for this period of severe weather including ensuring their mobile phone is fully charged to enable communication.
- 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 contact 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.
- Farmers are advised to take all precautions when dealing with livestock and possibly working alone.
- Those travelling by air should allow plenty of time for their journey. Passengers seeking updates regarding specific flights should contact their airline directly.
Update 05.01.2025 - 2.00pm
Following a meeting of Laois Severe Weather Assessment Team today (Sunday), please be advised that sub-zero and very low temperatures are likely over the coming days.
Met Eireann have extended the current Orange Weather Warning for Snow/Ice for Laois from 5pm today Sunday 05.01.2025 to 8pm today Sunday 05.01.2025.
Dangerous, and, sometimes, treacherous road conditions are likely and care should be taken on both treated and untreated roads.
Where possible, people should seek to minimise travel.
Where travel is required, please plan/revise your journey, to prioritise use of treated roads over and above untreated roads.
Maps of treated routes are available on Laois County Council’s website. on the links provided on the update below from 04.01.2025.
Further updates will be posted when available.
Update 04.01.2025 - 12.30pm
Met Eireann have upgraded the previous Weather Warning to Orange for Laois.
Significant snowfall accumulations are expected.
Expected Impacts:
- Very difficult travelling conditions
- Poor visibility
- Travel disruption delays to public transport likely (air, rail, bus)
- Difficult conditions underfoot
- Animal welfare issues
- previously mentioned points of note (included below from 03.01.2025)
The Orange Weather Warning is in place from 5pm Saturday 04.01.2025 until 5pm Sunday 05.01.2025.
Further information on Laois County Council's Winter Maintenance Programme, including the Map for Salting/Gritting can be found on the links below:
www.laois.ie/roads-and-transport/road-maintenance/roads-winter-maintenance
03.01.2025 - 12.30pm
County Laois is included in a Yellow Weather Warning for Snow/Ice, for the period from 5pm Saturday 04.01.2025 to 5pm Sunday 05.01.2025.
Please note that Weather Warnings may be updated over the weekend, so please monitor Met Eireann forecasts closely.
There are likely to be wintry showers and icy surfaces over the weekend, which will lead to difficult travel conditions. Driving conditions will be hazardous, even where roads are treated.
Please slow down, drive with caution, be aware of other road users, and allow extra time for your journey.
Please also take extra care while walking, as footpaths etc. are likely to be extremely hazardous and slippery due to ice.
Other points of note;
- Check on elderly, vulnerable and isolated neighbours
- Keep your phone charged and take it with you on all journeys. 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.
- 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
- Farmers are advised to take all precautions when dealing with livestock and possibly working alone
- People are advised to prepare for this period of severe weather including ensuring their mobile phone is fully charged to enable communication.
- People travelling long journeys check weather/ road conditions, not just where they are starting from, but at their destination and along the route, as conditions may vary significantly.