A West Clare grocery store owner is assuring that suppliers will have shelves stocked with essentials throughout the county for the duration of the severe weather spell.
It comes as a status orange low temperature and ice warning comes into effect in Clare tonight, with Met Eireann forecasting “extremely cold conditions” for this county.
The mid-level alert will come into play here and in 21 other counties from 8pm tonight and the national forecaster is advising the public to prepare for extreme cold, widespread severe frost, ice and lying snow.
Met Eireann says this will lead to dangerous travelling conditions on roads and underfoot, travel disruption, delays and animal welfare issues.
Although the notice lifts at 10am tomorrow, another Orange warning for the same conditions will re-apply from 6pm on Wednesday through to Thursday, when temperatures are expected to plummet to as low as -10 in Ardnacrusha, with Ennis, Crusheen, Shannon and Newmarket-On-Fergus expected to experience -8 degree conditions overnight.
The orange warnings mean schools, creches and businesses will now have to make decisions about how they’ll operate for the next few days.
Clare County Council is advising people to weigh up the importance of their planned journeys and to keep their phones charged.
Assistant Chief Fire Officer Ross Forde says as some roads will be particularly treacherous, planning your journey is of pivotal importance.
1,150 homes and businesses experienced power outages at the height of adverse weather, with 23 still without power in the greater Cratloe area today, though supply is expected to be restored by 5 o’clock this evening.
Due to the heavy snowfall, the road from Gullett Cross to Clogga Cross has been closed amid fears of trees falling on electrical wires.
Former Cratloe Independent Councillor PJ Ryan says locals have contended with serious challenges this week and he believes planning laws should be revised so new homeowners particularly can have fireplaces in the cold weather.
The hot schools meals programme has been disrupted in some areas of Clare as many roads became impassable.
Retailers in this county did report signs of slight panic buying as a result, but Owner of McInerney’s XL in Doonbeg, local Fianna Fáil Councillor Rita McInerney is assuring that suppliers will have shelves stocked throughout the county.
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