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First snow of the year!
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Snow is not remotely rare in Ulster it snows every year, guaranteed!
There are even private gritting and ploughing services along with the public services. http://www.u.tv/Articles/Article.aspx?guid=ec443264-1de2-4369-b41e-72689b9b1504
Every night from now until the middle of April, we will have over 300 staff and 132 gritters on standby to salt main roads, helping drivers to cope with wintry conditions.
"Salt barns and stockpiles have already been filled to maximum capacity and Roads Service is now holding stocks of almost 110,000 tonnes of salt."
Mr Kennedy said £5m had been set aside for the gritting operation which involves covering around 7,000km of main roads in just over three hours.
He added that, in the event of prolonged snowfall, all machines will be fitted with snow ploughs and efforts will be directed to motorways and other busier routes.
"The operation will continue until all roads are cleared, but this may take some time, even with all resources deployed," said the minister.
"In very deep snow, Roads Service will use its nine snow blowers, the latest of which can shift 1,600 tonnes of snow an hour."
Hi Jeltz, I am not sure why you keep driving home the point that it snows in Ulster every year, guaranteed. It snows in all four Irish provinces every year, guaranteed !!
The only problem is that a lot of that snow is well above sea level , i.e hills and mountains.
The whole idea that Ulster is some snow lover's heaven on a par with say Sweden is frankly ludicrous! Are you seriously suggesting that if you cross the border into North Leinster or East Connaught, there is a marked difference in climate? Now come on, no one is buying that!!:D
PS, we have lots of snow ploughs down in Dublin too and we have used them on the M50 plenty of times in recent years!!
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The whole idea that Ulster is some snow lover's heaven on a par with say Sweden is frankly ludicrous! Are you seriously suggesting that if you cross the border into North Leinster or East Connaught, there is a marked difference in climate? Now come on, no one is buying that!!:D
I have never ever compared here to Sweden.
Though in fairness some coastal areas of south Sweden see virtually no snow due to the moderating influence of the sea likewise on the coast of Norway even into the Arctic Circle due to the gulf stream. Sweden and Norway have huge differences in the duration of cold and snowfall levels in the interior.0 -
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I have never ever compared here to Sweden.
Though in fairness some coastal areas of south Sweden see virtually no snow due to the moderating influence of the sea likewise on the coast of Norway even into the Arctic Circle due to the gulf stream. Sweden and Norway have huge differences in the duration of cold and snowfall levels in the interior.
Fair enough you have not compared Ulster to Sweden, but the point I am making is that your posts paint Ulster as some sort of utopia for snow lovers. Quite simply its not. Are you seriously saying that if you cross the border from Down to Louth, the snow turns to rain?!!:D
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Emeraldy Pebbles wrote: »Of course there's personal responsibility, and as far I can see, many people do shovel their own driveways. Well, they did around my way during the snowy 2010 period. But at a greater level, it's hard for Ireland to justify putting the money into preparation for snow as they do in colder countries, as there are much more pressing needs that need to be prioritised.
The point I am making (perhaps badly) is that preperation need not cost money.
For example:-
Ensuring tyres are in good condition and appropriate for expected driving conditions.
Carry some warm clothing and a blanket or two in case of becoming stranded.
Carry a small quantity of high energy food such as chocolate, cereal bars etc... The likes of Pot Noodle or similar is great comfort food if carrying the below...
Carry a bottle or two of water. Perhaps a method of heating it for a warm drink. Small 1300Watt Camping Gaz burner with small canister takes up very little space. I have a Trangia burner (complete kit with wind guard, two pots, fuel container) which takes up less room than 4 paperback novels. Approx €15 cost.
Folding shovel. One with a metal locking screw rather than the poor quality plastic ones.
5ltr container of fuel.
Packet of baby wipes. Useful for ALL occasions
All that lot can easily fit into a plastic storage box that can easily be dropped into the boot of nearly any vehicle.
If people attempt to clear snow outside their property this can help mobility immensely. For anyone not travelling, a gallon of spring water is not expensive, wind up torch etc... Ensuring an adequate supply of fuel and food. All common sense items and ideas. Checking on neighbours can be great for morale too.
Nothing in that list costs a fortune yet can help a person so much if they run into trouble. If you're warm, dry, reasonably well fed and stranded, not in immediate danger, you won't need rescuing thereby reducing the burden on state resources. So Ireland doesn't need to spend a fortune for something that may or may not happen, we just need a positive attitude and perhaps check the weather forecast occasionally
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The point I am making (perhaps badly) is that preperation need not cost money.
For example:-
Ensuring tyres are in good condition and appropriate for expected driving conditions.
Carry some warm clothing and a blanket or two in case of becoming stranded.
(etc)
Nothing in that list costs a fortune yet can help a person so much if they run into trouble. If you're warm, dry, reasonably well fed and stranded, not in immediate danger, you won't need rescuing thereby reducing the burden on state resources. So Ireland doesn't need to spend a fortune for something that may or may not happen, we just need a positive attitude and perhaps check the weather forecast occasionally
People have died when trapped in their cars by snow.
You are not going to be one of them but when you think of how many people don't take any kind of precautions it is by good fortune they don't get stuck because they could easily be a statistic.0 -
Fair enough you have not compared Ulster to Sweden, but the point I am making is that your posts paint Ulster as some sort of utopia for snow lovers. Quite simply its not. Are you seriously saying that if you cross the border from Down to Louth, the snow turns to rain?!!:D
D
I have said nothing of the sort.
It is quite clear there is a gradient from the north to the south of the country.
What happens when an arctic air mass, for what ever reason, enters the country? Where does it hit first? What part does it get stuck over? What part does topographical features play?
You must have seen enough charts so far.0 -
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SnowDrifts wrote: »Lol - You've tried to clear snow with boiling water haven't you!
Worse!
I deliberately tried to create a slide.
Falling down hurt though.
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Join Date:Posts: 14619
Very reminiscent of owenc round here with all the Ulster talk. :rolleyes:
[pedant] It's actually NI as opposed to Ulster, lest we forget Donegal, Monaghan & Cavan who doubtless do not have access to the NI army of gritters, fleets of ploughs and squadrons (?) of snow blowers [/pedant] 0 -
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Well guys first hard frost of the season here this morning! Was soooo excited even though I was perished! Had to pour water from the kettle over the car and everything - aaah brings me back to November 2010....:pac:
It wasn't quite cold enough in Kildare to have frost this morning, but we've had a few, and I had to scrape the car in Dublin on Wednesday night.
However, the hot water isn't a great idea - you're far better off scraping the ice off. Tesco have ice-scrapers in stock, or you can just use a plastic card (possibly a better use for the credit card than the intended one... ).
If you use hot water, you run a risk of cracking the glass, damaging the seal around it, and - if it's still cold enough, which I'll grant it often isn't - leaving water to form ice just around where you'll be getting out of the car later on. Scrapers, as used in Scandinavia, Germany, and other countries where this is a daily task, are a better tool for the job.0 -
It wasn't quite cold enough in Kildare to have frost this morning, but we've had a few, and I had to scrape the car in Dublin on Wednesday night.
However, the hot water isn't a great idea - you're far better off scraping the ice off. Tesco have ice-scrapers in stock, or you can just use a plastic card (possibly a better use for the credit card than the intended one... ).
If you use hot water, you run a risk of cracking the glass, damaging the seal around it, and - if it's still cold enough, which I'll grant it often isn't - leaving water to form ice just around where you'll be getting out of the car later on. Scrapers, as used in Scandinavia, Germany, and other countries where this is a daily task, are a better tool for the job.
ha yes, never use hot water on a windscreen - if the air is still freezing your nice clear window will be a sheet of ice by the time you get onto the main road! Dangerous.0 -
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