Town gripped by 'ski resort' cold
PEOPLE in a town in the west of Northern Ireland have spoken of the Dunkirk-spirit that prevailed during one of the most unrelentingly cold winter days ever recorded in the province.
The temperature at Castlederg in Co Tyrone failed to rise above minus 11 degrees Celsius at any point during Saturday, meaning that it was cold even by the daytime standards of European ski resorts.
"It was bitterly cold out on the streets," said bar owner and local councillor Derek Hussey.
News of the record temperature, representing the lowest so-called 'daily maximum' temperature ever in Northern Ireland, comes as forecasters say that the cold spell could last until Christmas Eve or beyond.
There was further snow in parts of the province last night, but the main factor in the weather will be the persistent sub zero temperatures rather than fresh blizzards.
At all stages during Saturday, the Castlederg temperature was minus 11C or below.
"That is unprecedented for this part of the world," John Wylie of the Met Office told the News Letter last night. "I never thought I would see temperatures stay that low during the day in Northern Ireland."
Later on Saturday night and Sunday morning temperatures in the town dropped even lower, to minus 15.7C, which is close to the coldest December temperature ever recorded in Northern Ireland of minus 16.1C in Katesbridge, Co Down in 2000.
Mr Hussey said the extreme temperatures in Castlederg even stopped the grit from working fully.
However he said a "Dunkirk-spirit triumphed" with the community all helping each other.
"Conditions were quite atrocious, and because of the low temperature the grit was not as effective," he said.
"It was bitterly cold out on the streets, local traders were out from early doing their best to clear a path to let pedestrians get about town but it was quite obvious what should have been expected to be a major shopping day was impacted."
Farmers turned heroes by helping to ensure as many of the minor roads as possible were gritted giving rural dwellers a vital lifeline.
"There was great community spirit, you could see it earlier in the day with the traders and then spread on throughout the day," he said.
While Mr Hussey said trade from his regular patrons was down, he gained a temporary new clientele of young people who would usually go further afield for a night out.
"Luckily the entertainment we had organised was local so we knew he would be able to turn up," he said.
"The middle aged and older customers preferred to stay at home but that was counterbalanced by the young folks who would usually go to one of the big towns for a night out."
The cold weather is being caused by high pressure over Greenland, which has given winds from the north.
Mr Wylie said: "Each night is potentially getting a little colder than the one previous. At this time of the year, because it is dark seventeen-and-a-half hours a day, in each 24 hour period you have a small amount of daylight time in which to warm things up."
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Weather for Belfast
Tuesday 29 May 2012
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 12 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 7 mph
Wind direction: South west
Tomorrow
Light showers
Temperature: 12 C to 20 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
Wind direction: South
