Naasing to see here as six days of cold sets in
Fog puts stop to race meeting with sub-zero forecast ahead
THE country is in for a week of subzero temperatures as the first big freeze of the winter coincides with the schools reopening.
Temperatures are forecast to plummet to well below zero in the coming days leading to hazardous travelling conditions.
Met Eireann has issued a six-day cold weather advisory for the entire country, warning that sub-zero temperatures will create “sharp to severe frost, icy patches” with the likelihood of “dense fog”.
Despite the freezing weather pupils hoping for an extension of their Christmas holidays will be disappointed as most schools are set to reopen today. But there is also good news as while it will be very cold for the rest of the week there will be plenty of sunshine during the days with very little rain.
But when darkness falls, sub-zero temperatures will be the norm for most of the country dropping as low as -4C in some parts. It was bitterly cold yesterday with the frost and fog very slow to clear, resulting in the race meeting at Naas being called off after just one race due to fog.
The Kildare track had been the subject of two morning inspections, with officials calling an initial pre-dawn check due to the threat of frost.
While the ground was perfect for racing early on there were worries about the persistence of the fog.
Conditions deteriorated during the morning and while the first race went off after a delay it was deemed the fog was too thick to continue and the meeting was abandoned.
The races, including the Grade One Lawlor’s Of Naas Novice Hurdle, are now set to take place this Friday. Met Eireann has
warned that today will be very cold with frost and fog slowly clearing to give a largely dry day with sunny spells but temperatures will struggle to get above 6C and will remain as low as 2C in some places.
Tonight will be bitterly cold with frost in most areas and temperatures will plummet to at least -4C in sheltered areas.
Tomorrow will be cold but mainly dry with bright or sunny spells and light to moderate easterly breezes.
The best of the sunshine will be over the western half of the country. It will be a bit cloudier in the east with a few light showers possible in coastal counties.
Wednesday will be another cold day, with patchy light rain along eastern coasts, and sunny spells elsewhere.