More wintry showers on the way as cold snap continues

ACROSS Donegal temperatures plummeted below freezing last night, with Donegal County Council deploying their gritting services across the county.

Met Éireann has issued a yellow weather warning for snow and ice which will remain in place until midday today (Thursday).

The warning comes as the county braces for more wintry showers of hail, sleet and snow, with some modest accumulations in places, especially on high ground.

The forecaster also warned of hazardous travelling conditions and icy stretches.

Today is expected to remain frosty, with widespread showers in the morning, some of which may turn wintry. These will become more isolated later in the day, with plenty of clear and bright spells developing.

Although tonight will see the weather warning lifted, temperatures are once again expected to drop below freezing.

Meanwhile, Uisce Éireann is advising households on how to avoid the inconvenience and cost of burst pipes and water outages during cold weather.

Water expands by nearly 10 per cent when frozen, which can cause even new pipes to split, leading to leaks and flooding.

As temperatures begin to drop, Uisce Éireann is advising customers to keep their homes winter-ready by insulating pipes, fixing leaks, servicing boilers and reducing draughts.

They also urged customers to know where their stop valve is for emergencies.

Margaret Attridge, Uisce Eireann’s head of water operations, said: “We know from previous winters that freezing conditions can cause significant disruption for homes and businesses across the country.

“By taking simple steps now, like insulating pipes and checking stop valves, you can prevent costly damage and help keep water flowing for everyone.

“Our crews are ready to respond, but prevention is always better than cure.”

Margaret is also advising that people should not leave taps running as this will not necessarily prevent pipes from freezing and can impact on your local water supply.

Visit https:www.water.iewinterproofing for step-by-step guidance and videos on protecting your home.