A status orange low temperature and ice warning was issued for 16 counties on Thursday evening as Ireland faces an extremely cold night with temperatures below -5 degrees expected widely away from coastal areas.
Met Éireann has forecast that patches of freezing fog will lead to hazardous driving conditions in many places.
Another “bitterly cold night” is on the way on Thursday night, Met Éireann meteorologist Michelle Dillon told Newstalk.
“We will have severe frost, ice and some patches of fog. Temperatures will rise a little bit into Saturday but we’ll see the more significant rise in temperatures then through Saturday night and Sunday.
“That’s as the weather system pushes up from the southwest, bringing with it a mix of sleet and rain - possibly snow for higher ground.”
The status orange warning from 6pm on Thursday applies to Carlow, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois, Longford, Meath, Offaly, Westmeath, Cavan, Monaghan, Clare, Cork, Limerick, Tipperary, Galway, and Roscommon. It will end at noon on Friday. A general status yellow low temperature/ice warning remains in place for remaining counties until noon on Friday.
Friday morning will start mainly dry with isolated showers developing in the west and northwest, Met Éireann said.
However, the showers will become heavier and more widespread over the western half of the country during the afternoon with the chance of a few isolated thunderstorms and small hail near northwest coasts.
The showers will likely fall as rain near the coasts, transitioning to sleet and snow further inland.
It will still be very cold with afternoon highs at best inland ranging from 0 to +3 degrees, and a couple of degrees higher on the coast in mostly light to moderate southwesterly winds.
The national forecaster has indicated that it will remain very cold this week with widespread sharp to severe frosts and icy stretches. Some showers of hail, sleet and snow will occur, mainly near coasts. Accumulations at lower levels are expected to remain low. Freezing fog will occur at times, with winds remaining light over land.
A small craft warning is in place from Slyne Head to Fair Head to Wicklow Head from 11pm on Thursday to 11pm on Friday. Westerly winds will increase to force 6 tonight, overnight and during Friday morning.
Meanwhile, the Coast Guard, RNLI and Water Safety Ireland are continuing to urge people to be aware of the added danger at our aquatic environments and of additional safety considerations when on, or near, the water during this cold snap.
Due to the freezing temperatures, many inland bodies of water have frozen over at canals, lakes, ponds and flooded areas. As the thickness of this ice can vary greatly the strong advice is to stay off the ice.
In a statement, the three groups have asked members of the public to exercise extra vigilance while walking beside bodies of water as walkways and paths can become extremely slippery and unsafe when icy. Walkers are urged to keep pets and young children away from the edges.
They also call for the public to use their common sense when it comes to festive dips. The three maritime organisations are asking people to check that they have the right information to safely enjoy these activities and that they know what to do in the event of an emergency.
“Cold water swims are very popular in the run up to Christmas and New Year. However, the current cold snap means that there are added risks to consider when taking part in these types of activities. This is particularly so inland. Avoid lakes that are covered or partially covered in ice. In an emergency dial 999 or 112 and ask for the Coast Guard.”
