Good news for kids, not so much for parents – a bout of sleet or snow over the weekend could result in school closures come Monday.
The country is currently bracing itself for below-freezing temperatures forecasted by Met Eireann, with drivers advised to exercise caution on icy roads.
Met Éireann has already issued a Status Yellow Ice warning for nearly all counties entering Friday and anticipates further updates will follow. Cork is also under Status Yellow Rain and Snow warnings for the entire weekend bringing treacherous conditions across the county.
Meanwhile, Carlow, Kilkenny, Wicklow, Clare, Limerick, Tipperary are all on Status Orange with “significant snowfall accumulations expected.”
Met Éireann forecaster Gerry Murphy explained what we can expect from the sudden temperature dip, describing the imminent weather patterns as a “multi-hazard weather event” this weekend.
Speaking on RTE Radio One, he said: “It will most likely fall as rain down the south coast but it must be said that the amounts of rain expected in the south and south-west are quite high, so it’s likely that we will see rainfall warnings, at least, in the south-west of the country.
“Then, as that rain pushes up through the afternoon/evening, it turns more to sleet, as you go in the hours of darkness then turning more to snow – currently, it looks like – predominantly over the southern half of the country.
“Then over much of the Midlands, the west, perhaps tomorrow night early on. Counties in the northeast mightn’t fare too badly because there is an easterly wind.
“It’s very difficult to pinpoint but really as we go through tomorrow night into Sunday all areas can expect sleet or snow at some stage.”
Snow is expected over the coming days
(Image: Andy Gibson)
Gerry noted that we won’t know until the weekend whether schools will be able to open come Monday, when teachers and students are due back from Christmas break, depending on how much snow falls.
“There are likely to be accumulations of snow in places on Monday morning coupled with a very severe frost as well.
“So there is the possibility that schools may not open but that will become more apparent as we go through the weekend.”
Schools in Ireland typically use a text messaging service to keep parents or guardians updated promptly. The Department of Planning has confirmed that the final call to close a school during adverse weather rests with the school’s management after considering guidance from official response agencies.
A spokesperson from the Department of Defence Emergency and Planning said: “The decision to close a school or ELC rests with the setting’s management authority taking into consideration the full guidance and direction available from the principal response agencies, especially An Garda Síochána.
“Any decision to close is taken in the interest of child safety, having assessed the local risks and having consulted, as appropriate, with school transport operators.”
Met Éireann has warned that it’ll stay nippy over the weekend, with additional bouts of rain, sleet, and snow expected, as well as treacherous icy conditions.