The south of the country, including Cork, Kerry and parts of Limerick will see extensive snow in the coming 24 hours and the next four or five days will be extremely cold, Met Éireann said today.
Temperatures are likely to fall as low as minus 10 at night in the coming days.
The national forecasting service said, however, it expected a significant thaw some time between Christmas Eve and December 27th.
Speaking at a briefing on the severe weather conditions, Met Eireann’s head of forecasting Gerald Fleming said the last 24 hours had brought a continuation of “patchy” snow showers across the west, north west and south of the country.
There were reports of up to 20cm of snow in parts of the north west. Air temperatures overnight in the Republic were as low as minus 6 degrees, while some stations in the North recorded temperatures of minus 10.
“We did expect some more extensive snow last night in parts of the northern midlands and across Dublin. That didn’t materialise – we just got a few flakes, a bit of a dusting,” Mr Fleming said.
The remnants of that snow fell “harmlessly” off shore today.
Mr Fleming said there would be up to five “very cold” days ahead with air temperatures progressively falling. By the middle of the week, temperatures would be down to minus 7 or up to minus 10 at night across the country.
The west will get some showery snow, with a “significant risk” across the south west tonight and tomorrow. Cork, Kerry and parts of Limerick will see more extensive snow fall in the next 24-hours, Mr Fleming said.
Tomorrow afternoon and evening and into Monday the risk would move across to the south east, with snow for Kikenny, Carlow, Waterford, Wexford and possibly Wicklow.
The exact location and intensity of the snowfalls was, however, “not at all certain”.
“Beyond Monday, it seems likely that it will be dry cold weather for some days.”
There will be very cold nights and sunny days, with a few snow showers, particularly in coastal areas.
Much milder weather is likely to move in sometime late next week, but the timing was still too far off to be definite about dates, Mr Fleming said.
Sean O’Neill of the National Roads Authority said about 2,000 tonnes of salt was used nationally last night and the current national supply stood at about 12,000 tonnes.
The situation was “holding steady”. A shipment of 25,000 tonnes is due to arrive by the end of next week.
Mr O’Neill said the authority was working with local authorities to make sure demand was met within the specific areas affected by the latest weather conditions. The anticipated thaw would also assist with the demand for salt.
National Director for Fire and Emergency Management Sean Hogan, who chairs the severe weather committee, advised people to make preparations and to take “sensible precautions” in the days ahead to deal with the severe weather.
In those areas worst affected, the public authorities had been working together, and with the public transport providers and also with An Garda Siochana to maintain the priority main routes and to keep the urban areas functioning “as best they can under the pressures that the snow has brought on them”.
Mr Hogan uged motorists and pedestrians to take great care and said people should clear the footpaths outside their premises of snow before it froze.
“This will make such a difference for the week ahead. We still are facing a very cold week ahead and if we have frozen and compacted snow remaining on the footpaths, that will remain a hazard. That’s the last thing we want in such an important week ahead in the commercial and the social life of the country.
“It’s a very busy time of the year and we are all working together to ensure that people enjoy a safe and happy Christmas.”
Inspector John Ferris of the Garda press office ppealed for people to exercise “extreme care”, to drive at appropriate speeds and to recognise that conditions would vary from kilometre to kilometre and from county to county.
He urged people to plan their journeys and to use radio and websites for information on weather conditions and to use primary routes where possible when travelling.
He said that even where roads had been treated, people should exercise care.
Insp Ferris also appealed to pedestrians to exercise caution.
Pedestrians should avoid walking home alone, he said. Friends should also ensure those they were travelling with got home to their front door.
Insp Ferris also asked people to check in with the elderly and those living alone, to talk to them, ensure they had sufficient supplies and to continue the community spirit.