Dedication or madness?

Many of us made our last mad dash to the shops last night or early this morning and are now settling in at home, expecting to spend the rest of today and much of tomorrow indoors. Most shops and business up and down the country are shutting their doors right now in line with government recommendations but one Dublin city centre store is defying the weather warnings. Spar on Dame Street in the capital operates 24 hours a day and has sorted many of us out with some post night-out grub in the past. It's now set to stay open for the rest of the day and tonight throughout Storm Emma. Speaking to RTÉ News Now, a staff member said that she's not worried about the onset of blizzard conditions this evening as the store's heating system is more than up to keeping employees and customers warm.

Staying bitterly cold & very windy for the rest of today with occasional hail and snow showers. Later this evening blizzard-like conditions with heavier and more continuous snow will arrive in the south. Temperatures will remain sub-zero all of the day in strong easterly winds. pic.twitter.com/Zgu3FLZhqL

— Met Éireann (@MetEireann) March 1, 2018

The government is hoping that no-one will chance heading out to the shops after 4pm today, when everyone across the country is asked to be indoors. Speaking at the National Emergency Coordination Committee press conference today, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar urged the public not to underestimate the risk to life that the weather poses.