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Big chill grips peninsula
22.12.09
by Linda McGrory
INISHOWEN is in the grip of a big chill bringing
disruption for motorists but joy for thousands of
schoolchildren around the peninsula.
Christmas came early for many children yesterday
after their schools were forced to close due to the
sub-zero temperatures.
According to Met Eireann, it will be much of the
same cold, chilly conditions for the rest of the
week with Christmas Day being a game of two halves,
in weather terms, around the peninsula.
Donegal County Council gritting teams continue to be
on high alert with road temperatures expected to
plummet to -5 or -6 degrees in some areas overnight.
Senior roads engineer Michael McGarvey said four of
the local authority's 26 gritting lorries have been
specially designated to Inishowen. He said Buncrana
Town Council also had its own gritting plan in place
for the urban area.
"We have been out in Inishowen every day
continuously since last Thursday evening and this is
expected to continue for the rest of the week," said
Mr McGarvey. "All the gritters are fitted with snow
ploughs and there has been a combination of
gritting, ploughing or both where necessary." Trucks
have been on the roads continuously from 6am to 6pm
and from 9.30pm to 11pm. |
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Mr McGarvey said there
were four pre-approved winter gritting routes
throughout the peninsula spanning from Moville,
Greencastle and Carndonagh; Carn, Buncrana,
Ballyliffin and Malin; Muff, Buncrana, Fahan and
Quigley's Point and Manorcunningham, Bridgend and St
Johnston. It is understood that these routes
comprise more than 250km of road. The senior roads
engineer said there had been a number of minor
accidents reported around Donegal with cars slipping
off the roads, but he had received no reports of any
serious incidents. He urged people to continue to
drive with "due care and attention" and to take
account of the road conditions before setting out on
their journeys.
Some schools were forced to close yesterday around
the peninsula due to a combination of factors
including dangerous driving conditions, sub-zero
temperatures and school buses not travelling due to
the hazardous roads. These included Gleneely
National School; Scoil Treasa Naofa, Malin Town;
Scoil Naomh Fionan, Whitecastle, Quigley’s Point;
Illies National School, Buncrana; St Baithin's
National School, St Johnston; St Boden's National
School, Culdaff and Carndonagh Community School.
Meanwhile, meteorologists at Met Eireann are
forecasting more of the same conditions for the
remainder of this week with a change predicted for
Christmas Day.
"It is going to stay very cold with frosty
conditions and icy roads up until Christmas Day,"
said forecaster Pat Clarke. "There may be some
further hail, sleet and snow showers and some parts
of the peninsula will struggle to get above
freezing." Mr Clarke said the people of Inishowen
would likely wake up to a frosty start on Christmas
morning but milder air would move in as the day
progressed.
"Milder weather will be moving in later on Christmas
Day and it is quite likely there will be heavy rain
on St Stephen's Day, but at least the temperatures
will go up with it," he added. |
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