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First snows of winter hit Sligo

As the first light falls of snow fell across some of the more high-lying regions of Sligo yesterday signaling the real start to winter, local authorities across the country are starting to stockpile thousands of tonnes of rock salt in preperation for a harsh winter.

However Met Éireann meteorologist Pat Clarke last night said there was “no sign on the horizon yet” of the type of weather that engulfed the country during the major cold spell two years ago.

“On Wednesday night, we had some bands of showers coming in from the North Atlantic which fell as rain, hail, sleet and a few dustings of snow in Kilfinane, Co Limerick, and Mallow, Co Cork,” he said.

Snow was also reported on the hills in Sligo and Donegal.

“Over the next few days, it’s going to be on the cold side of normal with temperatures below 10 degrees in most places,” Mr Clarke added. “You couldn’t rule out a fall in some hilly and mountainous areas. There could be further dustings of snow and sleet but it won’t be widespread.”

The salt has been acquired from the National Roads Authority and the Department of Transport and will be available to treat main roads during the coming winter.

Following a much milder winter in 2011/2012, more than half the stock had been left.

However, in 2010/2011, many local authorities across the country were left with minimal salt stocks and had to use grit or a mixture of both when the country was hit by a harsher than expected cold snap.