Eight counties now on warning of big freeze
THE big chill has arrived, with icy weather creeping into at least eight counties as Met Eireann extended its snow warning.
The forecaster originally issued a weather alert for just two counties in the Republic, while a number of warni ngs were i n place i n Northern Ireland.
In an update yesterday, the weather experts confirmed that icy, and snowy, weather was heading further down south, as temperatures plummeted.
Cavan, Monaghan, Donegal, Longford, Louth, Leitrim, Roscommon and Sligo are all on alert as part of the status yellow snow and ice warning.
The warning was due to remain in place until 7am this morning at least.
The forecaster warned that temperatures would drop to as low as zero today, and there will be no letting up later into the week. By tomorrow, night-time temperatures will dip to minus two in some areas and those figures will last well into the week.
A Status Yellow wind warning has also been issued for Donegal, Galway, Mayo, Sligo, Clare, Cork and Kerry. It is valid until 2pm today.
On Saturday night more than 1,000 homes were without power after Storm Bella swept across the country.
The ESB has said its crews are continuing to work on faults and all will be repaired over the course of the day.
Today will be blustery with widespread rain or hail, turning wintry on higher ground. Highest temperatures of 4 to 7C but feeling very cold in fresh to gusty northwesterly winds.
As temperatures dipped below zero, the hashtag #sneachta made a slow reappearance on social media, but bar a few snow- capped mountains, the sneachta had y yet to firmly y take hold.