Eleven counties brace for snow and ice after warnings

Several counties in the north and northeast have been told to brace for snow and ice as an arctic air mass passes over the country, bringing “very cold” conditions.

A Met Éireann status yellow warning for counties Cavan, Donegal, Monaghan, Leitrim and Sligo came into force at midnight and lasts until noon on Thursday.

The impacted counties are forecast to experience hail, sleet and snow showers.

There will be modest accumulations in some areas, especially on high ground, according to Met Éireann. That could result in hazardous travelling conditions and icy stretches on roads.

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Explainer

What do Met Éireann’s winter weather warnings mean?

Status yellow

People are urged to “be aware” of the conditions. This weather does not usually pose a threat to the general population but is “potentially dangerous” in certain areas. It can involve snowfall of 3cm or more in 24 hours, icy conditions, temperatures as low as -4 degrees and dense fog or pockets of freezing fog.

Status orange

People should “prepare appropriately” as conditions can be “dangerous” and may pose a “threat to life and property”. Up to 10cm or more of snow may fall in 24 hours, with temperatures of -5 to -10 degrees (or lower) and icy conditions, leading to “dangerous surfaces”. Dense or freezing fog can can create widespread and significant driving hazards.

Status red

This is the most severe warning, triggered by “rare and extremely dangerous” conditions. People are urged to “take action” to protect themselves and their properties. Snow can reach 10cm or more in six hours, 15cm or more in 12 hours and exceed 30cm within 24 hours. Icy conditions can be “dangerous” and temperatures can fall to -10 degrees or below.

Temperatures are due to drop to as low as -4 over the coming days.

The UK Met Office has issued a status yellow snow and ice warning for Antrim, Armagh, Down, Fermanagh, Tyrone and Derry from 5pm on Wednesday until midnight. It said wintry showers on Wednesday night into Thursday will bring some icy patches and lying snow in places, leading to possible travel delays

Met Éireann said it will continue to be cold this evening with clear spells and scattered showers, mainly in the north and west. Some showers will turn to hail and sleet with snow possible, mainly over higher ground in the north and northwest. Moderate to fresh northwest winds, gusty near Atlantic coasts.

Tonight will see lowest temperatures of -2 to +2 degrees with widespread frost and some icy patches developing in light to moderate northwest winds.

Tomorrow will be another cold day with frost and icy patches slow to clear. The forecaster says many places will be dry with sunshine but showers will continue in northern and western areas, with further wintry falls possible. The showers will die out through the day. Highest temperatures of 3 to 7 degrees in light to moderate northwest winds.

Conditions are expected to become milder after Friday, with highs of 4 to 9 degrees forecast on what is likely to be a wet day.

Rain and drizzle on Friday morning is expected to become more persistent towards the afternoon, as a band of rain moves in from the west. Lowest temperatures of 2 to 7 degrees are likely on Friday night.

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Temperatures will climb further to highs of 7 to 12 degrees on Saturday, which is set to see persistent rain spreading from the southwest from midday and into Saturday night.

Sunday looks likely to remain “generally unsettled” with widespread cloud and showery outbreaks of rain.

Clearer spells will develop throughout the afternoon, however, with showers becoming more scattered. Highest temperatures of 6 to 10 degrees are expected, alongside winds reaching strong to near gale force strength along Atlantic coasts.