On It's Way From Us To You, Or Vice Versa?

[Bizarra]

:(

More snow forecast as dwindling salt is rationed

08/01/2010 - 18:36:16

Up to 15cm of snow is forecast this weekend as authorities tonight ordered salt rationing to conserve dwindling supplies.

Met Eireann warned of dangerous weather with the east of the country – hit by heavy showers earlier in the week – bearing the brunt of the harsh Arctic conditions.

Transport chiefs warned inter-city routes may close under the strain as salt supplies were at critical levels with just half a week’s supply on order.

But Environment Minister John Gormley, head of the emergency response committee, insisted the Government was ready despite the worsening weather.

“I can assure you that yes it’s a difficult situation, we are on top of it,” he said.

“We are going to ensure we have the alternatives in place and that we will be ready for the snowfall on Sunday.”

With no sign the Arctic conditions easing its grip the Government ordered the country’s 4,000 schools will remain shut until next Thursday – the fourth week of the big freeze and the worst since 1963.

Education Minister Batt O’Keeffe said he was taking the decision to ensure the welfare of children.

And diplomatic efforts were also ordered with Irish embassies across Europe tasked with scouring the continent to replenish salt supplies.

Gerald Fleming, Met Eireann forecaster, said Sunday would see the worst of the winter showers with up to 10cm of snow possible.

“We’re talking about the east and south-east, effectively the same areas being affected as were affected earlier in the week,” Mr Fleming said.

“Two centimetres to five centimetres we’re saying in our warning.

“Then we’ll get the odd shower in the latter half of Saturday and into the first half of Sunday, and then as we move into Sunday afternoon, Sunday evening, we come to another dangerous phase when we have a weather system coming across which could give us 5cm to 10cm.”

“It does offer us the worrying possibility of more falls where we’ve already had falls.”

Struggling local authorities began mixing sand with rock salt to grit roads amid warnings shrinking supplies could shut major routes.

Although the National Roads Authority (NRA) said it was too early to predict if roads would close, it warned councils would have to conserve supplies of salt over the weekend to ensure they have enough for Monday morning’s rush hour.

Michael Egan, NRA head of corporate affairs, warned councils will not have the stocks to keep gritting at the same pace.

“That will come under increasing pressure,” he claimed.

“There is a possibility that local authorities may have to conserve salt stocks over the weekend in particular, because of a need to prioritise the clearing of roads in the working week.”

Up to 10,000 tonnes are expected in the country next week despite authorities needing on average 15,000 to 20,000 tonnes every seven days.

Some 4,000 tonnes of salt was being unloaded at the Shannon Estuary, where 200 trucks will take the material to 17 local authorities.

The shipment, which arrived on the MV Jumbo from Tees Port in the north-east of England, was due to be handled at Limerick Port but had to divert 40km south to Foynes because of freezing fog.

Waste of water was an added problem for councils. Both Dublin City Council and Fingal warned of falling levels in reservoirs with households urged to conserve water and not leave taps running as there had been a surge in the number of broken mains.

City officials warned demand was at a higher level than at any stage in recent years, with storage levels of treated drinking water now at critically low levels.

“We are asking consumers to assist us in maintaining the water supplies by restricting their use of water as much as possible,” a statement said.

“We will be reducing pressures throughout the system in order to conserve supplies.”

The City Council also warned housholds could face a loss of supply for short periods.

EirGrid, the operator of the national power system, said it had seen record demand in the last two days but insisted this would not cause power cuts.

The Defence Forces said requests for help came from local authorities in Kildare, Wexford and Galway with 30 troops in Newbridge, Maynooth, and Clane helping to grit roads.

In Enniscorthy, Co Wexford, and Galway, an assistant nurse and palliative care nurse were also on hand to attend to isolated patients.

Temperatures tonight are expected to fall as low as -12 degrees, while they will rise to a high of just 3 degrees tomorrow.

[e11fan]

Hopefully its on the way over at 6.30 thhis morning when i was heading to work the auris read -9 never seen

anything like this before !!!!

Saying that im only a young fella, father told me this nothing compared to what he remembers

[Raistlin]

So who is in for some shares in Grit futures ?

[Red Yaris 54]

So who is in for some shares in Grit futures ?

:( Thats a bit seasonal