'Stay indoors' warning lifted as blizzard conditions ease

Updated

A lockdown notice for people to stay indoors across Ireland has been lifted after the worst blizzards in three decades passed.

However, while conditions eased following Storm Emma, the weather system dumped snow 1m (3ft) deep on high ground in the east of the country.

Some 24,000 homes, farms and businesses are without power, ESB Networks said.

Another 83,000 customers experienced blackouts overnight with Greater Dublin and surrounding counties hardest hit.

Met Eireann extended its red weather warning for snow to Galway, with the southern half of the country under the precautionary alert.

But the National Emergency Co-ordination Group said the safety advice for people to shelter indoors has been withdrawn.

"There are variations in storm impact across the country and people need to take account of circumstances locally before deciding to venture outdoors or undertake journeys," the agency said.

ESB Networks said its repair crews will be on the ground where it is safe.

"Staff are focused on prioritising repairs as soon as it is safe and possible to do so to get electricity back to everyone," a spokesman said.

"We understand how difficult it is to have no electricity in these conditions."

Blizzard conditions swept across Ireland on Thursday night as polar air brought by the so-called "Beast from the East" weather system mixed with 100kph (62mph) gales from Storm Emma.

Temperatures dropped below minus 4C ( F) and there were strong gale-force winds.

The red weather alert issued by Met Eireann is in place in Leinster and Munster and Galway until 6pm on Friday.

Schools and colleges across the country will remain closed for a second day, and there is no public transport.

Concerns have also been expressed about flood threats when a thaw sets in.

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