A status red snow warning has now been issued by a leading Irish forecaster with up to 12 inches in parts of the country.
After reviewing the most up to date data, Ireland’s Weather Channel has issued a Status Red weather warning for inland Munster, the Midlands and parts of Wicklow, with a Status Orange Snowfall warning through the Midwest, parts of Leinster and other inland areas of Munster.
A deepening low-pressure front will move over the country from the south on Saturday afternoon and through the majority of the weekend.
As a result, Cathal Nolan from Ireland’s Weather Channel said: “significant and disruptive snowfall totals” are likely.
Areas in the Red warning zone could see as much as 12 inches of snow while areas under the orange warning could see as much as six inches of snow.
Cathal also confirmed that members of the public should expect significant disruptions over the coming days including:
- Disruption to transport services (road and rail)
- Disruption to power and telecommunications
- Fallen trees due to the weight of the snow
- Some isolated communities may be cut off
Cathal said: “Having carefully reviewed the overnight suite of weather models and using our experience forecasting severe winter weather Irelands Weather Channel is issuing a Status Red Snowfall warning across much of inland Munster, the Midlands and parts of Wicklow, with a Status Orange Snowfall warning through the Midwest, parts of Leinster and other inland areas of Munster.”
“A deepening area of low pressure to the southwest of Ireland will track slowly across the country as we go through tomorrow afternoon and evening and through much of the weekend. Frontal precipitation on its northern flank will fall as snow, with significant and disruptive snowfall totals likely in some areas with some blowing and drifting snow possible also, especially on higher ground.”
“Snowfall totals in the areas under a Status Red Snowfall warning could see between 20-30cm of snow, areas under the Status Orange weather warning could see between 5-15cm of snow, with areas in the Status Yellow Snowfall warning could see between 2-5cm of snow falling over the weekend period. Some coastal areas of the south and east may escape without snow as temperatures will be warmer here.”
It’s not only Ireland’s Weather Channel that has talked of major weather warnings over the coming hours.
Kenneth from Donegal Weather Channel expects “orange warnings for snow/ice and low temperature /Ice warnings for the weekend and into next week with Parts of the Midlands, Connacht, Ulster and Leinster could see red warnings issued for significant snow accumulations also.”
The criteria for issuing either Status Red or Orange warnings can be seen below.
STATUS ORANGE
- Orange snow/ice warning
- 3cm or greater in 6 hrs
- 5cm or greater in 12 hrs
- 10cm or greater in 24 hrs
Orange Low Temperature/Ice warning
Air minimum of -5C to -10C (or lower) expected over a wide area. Dangerous surfaces due to ice and/or lying snow/freezing rain. Situation stable.
STATUS RED
- Red snow/ice warning
- 10cm or greater in 6 hrs
- 15cm or greater in 12 hrs
- 30cm or greater in 24 hrs
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