Update 08.01.2025 - 5.00pm
Laois County Council Severe Weather Assessment Team Meeting – 8th January 2025 – Road Safety Message
County Laois is the subject of an Orange Weather Warning for Low Temperature/Ice, from 6pm this evening (Wednesday) until 11am tomorrow (Thursday).
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 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.
Key Public Safety Message:
- Check on elderly, vulnerable and isolated neighbours.
- 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.
- Cyclists need to exercise extreme caution during this cold weather spell. While key arterial routes are being gritted nightly, there are many cycle routes that may not be gritted.
- In areas of freezing fog, switch on fog lights where visibility is reduced, ensure to check mirrors and slow down. Use your foot brake lightly so that your lights warn following drivers https://www.rsa.ie/news-events/news/details/2025/01/03/the-rsa-is-advising-road-users-to-be-prepared-for-treacherous-road-conditions
- 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
- Keep your phone charged and take it with you on all journeys. In an emergency dial 999 or 112
- All disruptions to HSE services are on the hse.ie homepage and it is being regularly updated on HSE social media channels https://www.hse.ie
- 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.
- 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.
- The Dublin Region Homeless Executive (DRHE) have a free app which enables members of the public to alert them to the location of anyone sleeping rough, so that outreach teams can make contact with them. If you wish to make a report of a rough sleeper in the Dublin Region please download the app, the link can be found on the following website: https://www.homelessdublin.ie/our-work/news/drhe-launches-new-app-for-public-to-alert-teams-to-location-of-rough-sleepers
- Farmers are advised to take all precautions when dealing with livestock and possibly working alone.
- Those travelling by air over the weekend should allow plenty of time for their journey. Passengers seeking updates regarding specific flights should contact their airline directly.
- 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.
Teachtaireachtaí Tábhachtacha Sábháilteachta Poiblí
- Déan cúram do dhaoine aosta, daoine leochaileacha agus comharsana atá scoite amach.
- Beidh cúrsaí taistil deacair mar gheall ar cheathanna geimhriúla agus dromchlaí a bhfuil sioc orthu.
- Beidh na bóithre contúirteach, fiú agus grean curtha orthu agus iarrtar mar sin ar dhaoine a luas a laghdú, tiomáint go cúramach, a bheith airdeallach ar dhaoine eile atá ag úsáid an bhóthair agus am breise a thabhairt dóibh féin dá dturas.
- Ní mór do rothaithe a bheith thar a bheith cúramach ar na bóithre le linn na tréimhse seo d’aimsir fhuar. Cé go mbeidh grean á chur gach oíche ar phríomhbhealaí artaireacha, d’fhéadfadh sé tarlú nach mbeadh grean curtha ar go leor bealaí rothaíochta.
- Moltar do thiománaithe a bheidh ag tabhairt faoi thurais níos faide a bheith airdeallach ar chúrsaí feadh an bhealaigh ós rud é go bhféadfadh athrú mór a bheith ar an aimsir in áiteanna éagsúla sa tír.
- D’fhéadfadh an tréimhse seo d’aimsir fhuar cur isteach ar sheirbhísí iompair phoiblí freisin, mar sin moltar do dhaoine seiceáil le hoibreoirí seirbhíse chun an t-eolas is déanaí a fháil faoina gceantar féin.
- Iarrtar ar dhaoine a bheith an-chúramach nuair atáthar amuigh ag siúl: is féidir le cosáin etc. a bheith an-chontúirteach/an-sleamhain ag sioc.
- Coinnigh d’fhón luchtaithe agus tabhair leat é ar gach turas. Glaoigh ar 999 nó 112 i gcás éigeandála
- Tá gach cur isteach ar sheirbhísí Fheidhmeannacht na Seirbhíse Sláinte le fáil ar an leathanach baile na Feidhmeannachta agus táthar á thabhairt cothrom le dáta go rialta ar chainéil meán sóisialta an HSE https://www.hse.ie
- Cuirtear tuilleadh comhairle ar fáil ar an láithreán gréasáin Bí Ullamh don Gheimhreadh https://www.gov.ie/en/campaigns/aa78b9-be-winter-ready chun ullmhú do dhrochaimsir.
- Moltar do dhaoine a bheith ullamh don tréimhse dhrochaimsire seo lena n-áirítear a chinntiú go bhfuil a bhfón póca luchtaithe go hiomlán le go mbeidh siad ábalta cumarsáid a dhéanamh le daoine eile.
- Is féidir teagmháil a dhéanamh le Seirbhísí Éigeandála BSL ag an uimhir 1800 372 999. Is féidir leis an bpobal súil a choinneáil ar www.PowerCheck.ie.
- Is féidir le custaiméirí Uisce Éireann a shuíomh gréasáin agus a chainéil meán sóisialta a sheiceáil chun an nuacht is déanaí a fháil agus is féidir leo teagmháil a dhéanamh le hUisce Éireann faoi aon fhadhb nó ábhar imní a bheadh acu trína n-ionad cúraim do chustaiméirí 24/7 ar an uimhir 1800 278 278. Is féidir le daoine clárú ar líne freisin le córas foláirimh téacs saor in aisce chun an t-eolas is déanaí a fháil go rialta faoina soláthairtí áitiúla - féach www.water.ie. Moltar do dhaoine uisce a chaomhnú, agus féachaint ar https://www.water.ie chun comhairle a fháil.
- Tá aip saor in aisce ag an bhFeidhmeannas do Dhaoine Gan Dídean i Réigiún Bhaile Átha Cliath (DRHE) a chuireann ar chumas an phobail iad a chur ar an eolas faoi aon duine a bhíonn ag codladh amuigh, ionas gur féidir le foirne for-rochtana teagmháil a dhéanamh leo. Más mian leat duine atá ag codladh amuigh i Réigiún Bhaile Átha Cliath a thuairisciú, íoslódáil an aip. Is féidir teacht ar an nasc ar an suíomh gréasáin seo a leanas: https://www.homelessdublin.ie/our-work/news/drhe-launches-new-app-for-public-to-alert-teams-to-location-of-rough-sleepers
- Moltar d‘fheirmeoirí gach réamhchúram a ghlacadh agus iad ag déileáil le beostoc agus iad ag obair astu féin seans.
- Ba chóir do dhuine ar bith a bheidh ag taisteal ar eitleán thar an deireadh seachtaine neart ama a thabhairt dóibh féin lena dturas a dhéanamh. Ba cheart do phaisinéirí a bhfuil an t-eolas is déanaí faoi eitiltí sonracha á lorg acu teagmháil dhíreach a dhéanamh lena n-aerlíne.
- Coinnigh súil ar réamhaisnéisí Met Éireann agus/nó féach ar https://www.met.ie/ chun an t-eolas is déanaí a fháil. Tá eolas ar fáil ar fud ardáin meán sóisialta agus ar fud foinsí meán nuachta eile.