Winter wonderland around Spelga Dam

Winter wonderland around Spelga Dam

8 January 2025

WINTER has arrived in the district.

Plummeting temperatures resulted in a series of weather alerts as the cold snap took an icy grip last weekend with the first fall of snow in the high Mournes.

Snow blanketed Spelga Dam with beautiful picture postcard images captured by Robert McKee of RBM Photography.

Yellow warnings for snow and ice have been in place since last weekend with temperatures hovering above two degrees on Monday and yesterday.

Forecasters are predicting sunshine today and tomorrow but the chilly northern winds will see temperatures remaining around two degrees as winter makes its presence felt.

Homeowners have been keeping fires and stoves well fed and turning up the thermostat in a bid to keep the cold at bay.

Further wintry conditions are expected to continue with icy starts to the day continuing for early morning commuters with more light dustings of snow expected in the Mournes.

Last weekend’s wintry weather resulted in the cancellation of a number of local sports fixtures with drivers urged to be careful on untreated roads.

The cold snap also prompted NI Water to advise people to take extra care around waterways.

The organisation said reservoirs and loughs can "look frozen but if they freeze over it's impossible to tell how thick the ice is”.

NI Water said ice can be thin in places and there is a very real risk of someone drowning.

As the cold weather is expected to be here for a few more days, NI Water is reminding the public to be aware of the risk of frozen pipes as they pose a risk to properties and possessions.

Advice includes wrapping pipes and water tanks up, fixing dripping taps, knowing how to turn off your property's stop tap, checking the central heating boiler has been serviced and leaving the heating on low if you are going away.

The continuing cold snap may also provide Robert McKee with more opportunities to capture some stunning winter images.

He has produced a stunning 2025 calendar packed with beautiful images which is being sold to raise funds for the Mourne Mountain Rescue Team and is available by contacting him via RBM Photography’s social media page.

Last week it was confirmed that the rescue team had reached its £1m goal to build a dedicated new base and education centre in Newcastle.

Shortly before Christmas, the Community Ownership Fund announced the rescue team was to receive almost £540,000 in funding as part of a 

province-wide £3.6m investment package.

Rescue team volunteers are delighted with the significant financial boost and are eager to see construction work start on the new base at the foothills of the Mournes.

It is hoped the new building, which will be carbon neutral, will be open by September.

Last year, the rescue team launched an appeal to raise £400,000 to help it reach the £1m target to build the new base on land at Shanslieve Drive in the resort which has been donated by Supermarket giant Lidl.

The appeal sparked a huge public response and while the £1m target has been reached, the base’s final construction costs have yet to be confirmed.

Volunteers are out in all weathers and work in the most difficult and challenging of conditions, playing a critical role to play in rescuing people who get into difficulty in the Mournes, with the organisation highly regarded not just locally, but across Northern Ireland and indeed much further afield.