Met Éireann has issued a fresh status yellow snow-ice warning as bitterly cold conditions continue to grip Ireland with hazardous travel conditions expected
Met Éireann issued a new warning as bitter cold was expected to take over the country(Image: Getty Images )
Met Éireann released a new Status Yellow — Snow/Ice weather warning for nine counties as the freezing conditions that have enveloped Ireland this weekend are expected to persist.
On Friday, Met Éireann rolled out a series of overlapping weather alerts for snow, frost, and ice that encompass the entire country. The national forecaster cautioned about hazardous travel conditions and poor visibility, especially during the night and early morning hours.
A status yellow low temperature and ice warning was activated at 6 p.m. on Saturday for Munster, Carlow, Dublin, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois, Longford, Meath, Offaly, Westmeath, Wexford, and Wicklow.
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This weather alert will stay in effect until 11 a.m. on Sunday morning, with temperatures dropping to between -2C (28°F) and -4C (25°F), leading to sharp or severe frost and widespread icy patches.
A separate status yellow snow and ice warning is active over the same period for Connacht, Cavan, Donegal, Monaghan, and Louth. Met Éireann warns that wintry showers, snow accumulations, and icy conditions will result in challenging travel conditions and poor visibility.
Met Éireann has now issued a fresh status yellow — snow-ice warning for Cavan, Donegal, Monaghan, Louth, and all five counties in Connacht (Galway, Leitrim, Mayo, Roscommon, and Sligo).
Temperatures will drop to 0C on Sunday night
The weather alert took effect at 8:22 a.m. on Sunday morning and will stay active until 11 a.m. on Monday morning, with Met Éireann cautioning residents in the impacted regions that temperatures are set to drop to between -2C (28°F) and -4C (25°F) across many locations.
Met Éireann has also expanded its Status Yellow — Low Temperature/Ice warning, which was originally issued for Carlow, Dublin, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois, Longford, Meath, Offaly, Westmeath, Wexford, Wicklow and Munster. The warning will now take effect an hour earlier, at 5 p.m. on Sunday evening and will stay in place until 11 a.m. on Monday morning.
In its most recent forecast, Met Éireann cautioned that hazardous conditions will greet the day with a widespread sharp to severe frost, icy patches and some fog as well.
Scattered wintry showers of sleet and snow are expected across northern and western counties with local accumulations and the occasional rumble of thunder. Periods of winter sunshine are forecast for most other areas, though the occasional flurry may appear too.
Later this afternoon, rain will move into the southwest, changing to sleet or snow over elevated terrain. The national forecaster has described conditions as “very cold” with the highest temperatures reaching only 1C (34°F) to 5C (41°F) in light to moderate westerly winds.
The bitterly cold conditions are expected to persist into Sunday evening with widespread sharp to severe frost and icy patches forecast. Intermittent wintry showers will persist, most commonly in the North and West, with some accumulation of snow.
There may also be patches of fog or freezing fog, with temperatures dropping as low as -6C (21°F) to -1C (30°F) in light to moderate northwesterly winds.