Temperatures across Ireland will plummet even further tonight as a Met Eireann Status Orange warning for low temperatures and ice comes into effect.
The mercury in parts of the country could plunge to as low as -12 degrees making travelling conditions treacherous for pedestrians and road users.
The Low Temperature/Ice warning will come into effect at 8pm tonight and remain in place until Thursday, January 9 at 11am.
The Status Orange – Low Temperature/Ice warning is in place for Carlow, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois, Longford, Meath, Offaly, Westmeath, Wicklow, Cavan, Monaghan, Munster and Connacht.
Met Eireann has said to expect extremely cold temperatures with widespread severe frost, ice and lying snow.
Impacts include:
• Dangerous travelling conditions on roads and underfoot
• Travel disruption and delays
• Animal welfare issues
A nationwide Status Yellow Low Temperature/Ice warning for Ireland is in place until 6am on Friday.
The public should expect very cold temperatures with widespread frost, ice and lying snow. Some patches of freezing fog are also likely.
Potential Impacts:
• Hazardous travelling conditions on roads and underfoot• Travel disruption• Poor visibility
The worst of the snow will be away from coastal areas with up to 7cm likely in parts. Ireland’s Weather Channel is advising people who live in areas under an Orange warning to “only make necessary journeys and to check road conditions before heading out this evening.”
Treacherous driving conditions have been reported since this morning with temperatures as low as -5 or -6 in some areas.
Heavy snow has led to traffic disruption in many areas, with Donegal Weather Channel sharing a photo of the N17 that barely resembles a road at all, stating: “This shows the road conditions around the N17 near Knock Airport tonight with big snowfall amounts in the Area. The road is closed and not passable for HGVs.”
Met Éireann’s Deputy Head of Forecasting Liz Coleman, explains:
“This prolonged cold spell will bring very hazardous conditions over the next few days with no real opportunity for melt of significant lying snow. Given there has been a lot of snow over the weekend, as well as rain which has now frozen, there will be really dangerous conditions on the roads. The icy conditions will be particularly impactful for some road users, such as cyclists and motorcyclists, so alternative travel should be considered if possible.”
Really slippery on footpaths too so tricky conditions underfoot. We’d ask the public give extra time for any travel that they have to make.”
The latest Met Eireann forecast can be seen below.
Tuesday night
Clear spells and well scattered wintry showers this evening and tonight. Becoming extremely cold with lowest temperatures from 0 down to -5 degrees with severe frost and icy stretches. Light variable breezes will allow patches of freezing fog to develop.
Wednesday
A bitterly cold morning with widespread frost and icy stretches. There will be sunny spells and well scattered wintry showers however pockets of freezing fog may linger in places through the day. Highest temperatures of -1 to +4 degrees with mostly light northerly breezes.
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