AA Roadwatch has advised people travelling to Stradbally, Co Laois for the Electric Picnic festival to plan ahead as traffic is expected to be heavy on Friday afternoon and Monday morning.

IT has outlived many of its most famous characters like the Red Cow roundabout and the Westlink toll bridge, so AA Roadwatch had plenty of reason to celebrate yesterday when it marked 21 years of broadcasting traffic updates to a congested nation.

Ireland’s traffic & travel information service, AA Roadwatch, is today forecasting that traffic congestion is likely to improve significantly and that the coming ‘traffic season’ will be the lightest that we have had in many years.

Met Éireann is warning of large snow falls across the east of the country this afternoon, severely disrupting transport, as the sub-zero conditions show no sign of abating.

Roads remain in a treacherous condition this afternoon, with sub-zero temperatures in many parts of the country.

GARDAÍ are continuing to warn motorists of perilous driving conditions following the death of a woman in Wexford after the minibus she was travelling in overturned on an icy patch.

A woman was killed and 18 other people were injured today when a minibus overturned.

WITH temperatures plummeting to -5C last night motorists were today being advised to exercise extreme care while driving and not to make any non-essential trips.

The deep freeze is continuing right across the country this morning spelling havoc for motorists.

FREEZING weather conditions will continue well into next week, with widespread frost making roads extremely hazardous but the prospect of a white Christmas is slipping away.

A severe weather warning was issued today as temperatures were forecast to plummet to minus five degrees.

Drivers are being warned that the continuing cold snap is set to make road conditions again very dangerous tonight and in the morning, with sharp to severe ground frost forecast and icy patches expected on untreated roads.

THE worst flooding in two decades has destroyed hundreds of homes and businesses and devastated thousands of acres of farmland throughout the country, mostly in the south and west.

There is traffic chaos on Dublin's M50 this afternoon.

MORE heavy rainfall is being predicted for the weekend just 36 hours after flash flooding caused mayhem in sections of the country, and particularly Co Cork.

A protest by a group called ‘The Irish Taxi Council’ caused severe traffic delays for Dublin commuters from 8am right through the day, and on into evening rush hour, according AA Roadwatch.

Gig-goers driving to the Electric Picnic festival in Stradbally, Co Laois this weekend have been warned to allow at least an extra two hours for their journey.

MORE travel chaos is expected today as the big freeze sets in.

Motorists have been advised to exercise extreme caution tomorrow after a severe weather warning was issued by Met Éireann, predicting high winds and extensive rainfall.

Icy conditions and road closures in Co Donegal have prompted gardaí in the county to advise motorists to stay at home this morning.

Severe ground frost and black ice have hit motorists around the country today, as a number of minor crashes were reported on national roads.

There is a risk of more flooding in many parts of the country in the next few days with heavy downpours forecast between now and Thursday.

DRIVERS have been advised to plan ahead with chronic traffic jams predicted on what is set to be the busiest weekend of the year.