Blizzard warning as Mayo now under Red Alert

MAYO was last night added to the list of counties on red alert for Storm Emma – snow, ice and wind warning – which will take effect this afternoon (Thursday).

Just before midnight, Met Éireann updated the red alert to include the entire country.

Blizzard-like conditions are expected across the region by this evening.

Motorists are being urged to stay off the roads.

Swirling snow reduced visibility to almost nil on some sections of the N5 and N17 in east Mayo last evening.

As a result, some motorists had to park temporarily on the hard shoulder for safety reasons.

With heavier snow and stronger winds predicted, conditions will be even worse this evening and overnight.

All schools, colleges and third-level institutions throughout the region are closed today.

And Mayo University Hospital (MUH) has cancelled all routine electives and outpatient appointments for today (Thursday) and tomorrow.

Planned cancer and renal services, however, will be going ahead.

All appointments cancelled by the hospital will be rescheduled.

The hospital's A&E unit remains open.

MUH has advised that patients who are being discharged today should be collected from the hospital as early as possible to avoid travelling during the worsening weather conditions advised for this afternoon.

Keep up to date with @HSELive and @saoltagroup on Twitter and visit www.hse.ie/weatherwarning or www.saolta.ie for all the latest information regarding health services.