One of the coldest spells to hit Ireland in recent years continues to wreak havoc across the North West.
The National Emergency Coordination Group is meeting again today to monitor the severe weather.
It’s expected to meet every day this coming week, to discuss how to manage the arctic blast which will last until Friday.
An Orange warning for ice and low temperatures and freezing fog for the whole country is in place until midday.
Conditions have been described as treacherous, as a number of roads and services have been affected by the inclement conditions.
A number of events across the region have been called off too. Five Star Fun in Grange remains closed today, while in Leitrim, Kinlough Bingo is cancelled this evening. Ready, Steady, Cook, due to be held in Ballinagar this evening, has also been postponed.
Bus services across the region have been badly hit by the cold snap. Foley/Breffni Travel, who operate school and special needs bus services across Sligo, Leitrim and Donegal, did not run on any of their routes this morning.
A number of early morning Local Link services did not run this morning. The 7.30am service from Dowra to Sligo was cancelled, while the 7.25am service from Drumshanbo to Sligo did not serve Riverstown or Coola. The 7.35am service from Mullaghmore to Sligo was also unable to stop in Maugherow or Carney Village this morning.
Schools across the North West have also been adversely affected. Coola Post Primary school was forced to close today, as a number of school buses in the region were not in operation. Meanwhile Corran College in Ballymote did not open until 11.30am this morning.
Primary schools in the region were also unable to open, with Ardvarney National School in Dromahair, St Brigid’s Primary School in Drumkeerin, and St Joseph’s NS in Killenummery all remaining closed today.
With Met Eireann issuing a Status Orange Warning for a number of counties, including all of those in the North West Region, it looks as though Sligo, Leitrim and Donegal could be in for an extended cold snap in the build up to Christmas.