Revealed: here’s how big freeze will affect your region
:: Up to 5cm of snow to blanket most of country
WINTER isn’t ready to release its icy grip just yet as sub-zero temperatures and snowfall are expected throughout the country over the coming days.
Met Éireann has issued a Status Yellow snow and ice warning for counties Louth, Westmeath, Meath, Cavan and Monaghan, with up to 5cm of snow expected to fall before 6pm today.
However, the big snow is coming tomorrow with the Status Yellow being extended for the entire country for 24 hours from 8am.
The National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management Crisis Management Team met yesterday and has urged the public to continue to avoid all unnecessary travel.
It said that tomorrow “it is likely that precipitation will fall as snow, with accumulations leading to hazardous conditions in some areas”.
“This has the potential for disruption to transport.”
It said local authorities have made extra beds available for rough sleepers and community call staff will be in place to assist the vulnerable.
Council staff will also be out in force to treat road surfaces as overnight temperatures are expected to plummet to as low as -5C.
Met Éireann forecaster Liz Coleman warned that the largest accumulations of snow, of up to 5cm, will occur tomorrow.
However, milder conditions are expected to arrive over the weekend.
“The snow coming up from the southwest on Thursday will spread northeast through the day on Thursday and overnight on Friday.
“It will turn to rain back in the west and the south and we have milder air moving in behind that,” she said.
Outbreaks of rain are expected across the country over the weekend with little chance of snow or sleet.
Leinster
North Leinster will bear the brunt of the wintry conditions as snow and ice warnings are in effect for counties Louth, Meath and Westmeath until 6pm today.
Severe frost will set in overnight as temperatures are expected to drop to as low as -4C.
More widespread falls of sleet and snow are expected tonight as temperatures will remain as low as -4C with frost and ice forming.
Most areas will see the heaviest showers of snow tomorrow, with accumulations of up to 5cm expected in many counties including Dublin, Wicklow and Wexford.
Council staff will be out in force to treat road surfaces
Ulster
Snow and ice warnings are in effect for counties Cavan and Monaghan until 6pm today, with temperatures expected to drop as low as -4C tonight.
A yellow weather warning is also in place by the UK Met office for counties Armagh, Antrim, and Down.
Temperatures will be coldest in the north of the province
overnight, with most areas experiencing a dip as low as -5C.
Wintry showers of sleet or snow will fall today in the east and on northern coasts, while areas further west, including Co Fermanagh and Co Tyrone, will remain mostly dry with sunny spells throughout the day.
The heaviest accumulations of snow are expected tomorrow night.
There is risk of lingering snowfall in the north on Saturday, although outbreaks of rain are expected as mild conditions set in.
Connacht
After temperatures tumbled as low as -5C in some parts last night, motorists are advised to take caution this morning with icy stretches on roads expected.
Wintry showers of sleet or snow will drift into the east of the province today, with counties Leitrim and Roscommon seeing most of the snow and sleet showers.
Highest temperatures will range from just 1C to 3C during the afternoon, with a moderate easterly breeze.
The west falls under the Status Yellow warning which comes into effect tomorrow morning and stays in place for 24 hours.
Munster
It will be very cold across Munster again this morning after another night of sub-zero temperatures.
Wintry showers are most likely across the south and east of the province with counties Tipperary, Waterford and Cork the most affected.
Although many areas will be dry with sunny spells, it will still be another very cold day with highest temperatures of just 1C to 3C.
The heaviest accumulations of snow will occur tomorrow as the Status Yellow warning comes into effect for the south.
Friday will see mostly outbreaks of rain with the risk of lingering snowfall, as much of Munster will see temperatures rise by Friday night with lows of4to7C.
Saturday and Sunday will be windy with outbreaks of rain, with milder conditions persisting.