Time for a dip... in temperatures as cold snap hits
Mercury could drop to -6C this week
THE cold snap is here – and it’s bringing some snow with it.
In good news for children – though not for drivers – there’s likely to be a dusting in parts of Wicklow, Wexford, the Dublin mountains and parts of Waterford.
On their first days back after the Christmas break, some schools may even have to close today or delay their opening.
Met Éireann issued a Status Yellow low temperature warning yesterday for the whole country, with the mercury expected to drop to -5C last night.
The national forecaster says things will be getting very cold with a widespread sharp frost and icy patches, along with patches of mist or fog.
The icy blast is expected to last until Friday with night-time temperatures dropping to around -3C with severe frosts, icy patches and dense fog meaning treacherous driving conditions.
Met Éireann’s Deirdre Lowe said temperatures were expected to be as low as -5C last night and as low as -6C today.
However, she said conditions will be mainly dry with the odd wintery flurry possible.
Ms Lowe warned there were some ‘very cold nights to come’, adding: ‘And then the chance of Arctic air moving down later in the weekend and in the early days of next week, but overall temperatures are certainly going to remain below normal for this time of year.’
Fog isn’t going to be as prevalent as it has been on previous nights, but freezing fog is expected today in the Midlands and the North.
Motorists and pedestrians were also warned to take extra care as driving conditions are expected to be ‘dangerous’ with icy patches on roads and pavements.
She also warned drivers of the combination of rainfall and low temperatures will hazardous conditions on the roads.
Ms Lowe added: ‘That’s very dangerous. That’s possible tonight in the east and south, particularly near the coast where some wintry showers will move in or just inland from the coast, where you get the sub-zero temperatures on the ground and the ground gets wet and it freezes very quickly so there could be icy patches in any part of the country due to the wintry showers in the east and the hard frost over the rest of the country.
‘And also when you get mist and fog, there’s a lot of moisture and you can get very icy roads there too – and you can’t see it because of the mist and fog.’
‘There could be icy patches in any part of the country due to the wintery showers in the east and the hard frost over the rest of the country.
‘We had what’s known as an “ice day” yesterday in north Cork and that’s when temperatures over a 24-hour period actually stay below freezing,’ Ms Lowe said.
There will be some ‘cold nights to come’ over the next couple of days before temperatures begin to pick up from tomorrow or Thursday, she added.
In the North, the UK’s Met Office is also forecasting bitterly cold temperatures, with a widespread frost and temperatures as low as -4C.
Uisce Éireann has recommended public and business customers use water responsibly during the cold period.
It said customers should check for and fix any leaks, have their boiler serviced, insulate water tanks and pipes and check their inside stop valve.
Uisce Éireann also said cold air from outside can cause pipes to freeze inside, so customers should ‘draught-proof’ their homes by sealing gaps around windows and doors.
Met Éireann says this morning will begin frosty and icy with a light dusting of snow in some parts.
‘It will be cold throughout with low winter sunshine occurring widely. Dry, apart from a few light showers across eastern and southern coastal counties.
‘Highest temperatures of 2 to 6 degrees, in light to moderate easterly breezes. Frost and ice setting in quickly after dark.’