Met Éireann has warned of severe wintry weather in Ireland for much of the coming week, with significant falls of snow likely in addition to frost and ice.
Temperatures could drop as low as -4 degrees over the next few days. Tonight will remain very cold, with northeast to north winds. Again, most parts of the country will be dry and fine, but there will be scattered wintry showers in some coastal areas - mainly along eastern and northern coasts, where local falls of snow are possible.
There will be another widespread frost, with icy roads in places, but fog will be much less widespread than last night - only occurring on a very localised scale if at all. Lowest temperatures will range from 1 to - 4 degrees generally, but +2 to 4 degrees on exposed coasts.
Both Wednesday and Thursday will continue very cold and breezy. Scattered wintry showers will persist in northern and western counties but the rest of the country will be mainly dry with variable cloud.
The Irish Water Safety (IWS) has also issued an ice warning advising people to keep themselves and pets off ice on canals, lakes and rivers.
About half of ice related drownings involve the attempted rescue of another person or a dog. In some instances the dog managed to scramble to safety ashore unaided while the owner did not. "It is therefore prudent not to throw sticks or balls for your dog and keep them off the ice," the IWS.
The body warns that there is no such thing as safe ice and advises everyone to keep off ice.
It advises the following steps if someone falls through ice into water:
- Call for assistance from the emergency services
- Do not attempt to go out onto the ice yourself
- Instruct the casualty to keep still to maintain their heat and energy
- Try to find something close by that will extend your reach such as a ringbuoy, rope, pole, branch or item of clothing. Throw this to the casualty. Then making sure you are stable on the bank, by lying down or getting someone to hold onto you, attempt to pull the casualty from the water.
- If you cannot find something with which to perform a reach or throw rescue, try to find something that will float to throw or push out to them. This will help keep the casualty afloat until assistance arrives
- Throughout your rescue keep off the ice, and continue to reassure the casualty, keeping them talking till help arrives
- All casualties should be taken to hospital even if they appear to be unaffected by their ordeal