A rare occurrence on Tory Island with first 'big snowfall' in over 10 years
Snow falling on the island is 'an event' says islander
Tory Islanders have experienced their first ‘big snowfall’ in over a decade and this could be due to the wind coming from the arctic, according to local man, Micí Whiting.
A native islander from Inis Bó Finne, Mr Whiting says the wind is coming from an usual direction and he is surprised that Tory Island didn’t get more snow.
The school on Tory island was closed on Tuesday, January 17, due to road conditions due to heavy snowfalls.
Sakai Lévy Rodgers said that it is rare for the school to close due to snow.
She said: “Usually a school closure would be caused by storms.”
She said that when snow falls on the island the Atlantic ocean crashes onto the rocks and the ocean spray is carried across the island by the wind and it melts the snow that falls onto the island.
She said that the last big snow was around 2010 or 2011.
“My husband, Michael, remembers a few feet of snow for a few days between 1981 and 1982 and another big snow in 1986,” she said.
She said that when snow falls and lies on Tory, it becomes an event.
“For children it’s a joy, the discovery of a very unique sensory experience, many islanders took a lot of pictures, the white scenery is definitely exceptional and beautiful on Tory. Now, school closure for one day is not a massive issue but we had to make sure to get deliveries, such as post, groceries … the day before as bad road conditions mean that we wouldn’t be able to get anything in otherwise,” she said.