Motorists urged to take care in icy conditions

AA Roadwatch has urged motorists to drive with care after last night’s frost in the east and north caused temperatures to plummet to minus -2C.

Similar icy conditions had continued to linger for most of yesterday in sheltered areas and on some secondary roads.

AA Roadwatch said motorists should always slow down in icy conditions, as stopping conditions are an estimated 10 times longer.

Nichole Gernon of AA Roadwatch said icy road temperatures had remained in parts of the country, with black ice in some areas.

“While there were no major incidences, there have been some minor crashes on local roads due to the ice,” she said.

With good clear spells inmuch of the east last night, temperatures fell to between -2C and 2C in the east and north.

However, according to Met Éireann, temperatures will gradually increase as the morning progresses. Top temperatures will be between 6C and 10C and it will be mildest in the south and west.

After several days of very cold weather, it is expected to remain mild for the remainder of the year.

Met Éireann spokesman Hugh Daly said the lowest temperature so far this year was -7C in Mullingar, Co Westmeath.

However, if was far from the record -17C registered in Foxford, Co Mayo, in December 2010.

Cork was the warmest area of the country on Sunday night, with weather stations at Roche’s Point and Sherkin Island recording temperatures of 4C.

“The icy weather was just a short, sharp episode and the mild weather experienced in the run-up to Christmas will return for the remainder of the year,” said Mr Daly.

“For the weather to get really cold, you need a good few icy nights so the frost gets well into the ground.”

Tomorrow, New Year’s Eve, the country will be split down the middle, with areas east of the Shannon mostly dry, and wet to the west. Lowest overnight temperatures are unlikely to fall below 7C or 8C.

New Year’s Day, meanwhile, is expected to be wet but still relatively mild for the time of year, with a light to moderate south-west flow keeping temperatures above normal for the time of year.

An Atlantic weather system to the west will push frontal rain-bearing troughs over the area throughout the day.

The rain will continue through the night when it will start to clear.

Friday will be a fresher day and most of the country will be mostly dry.

The mainly mild and unsettled conditions will continue throughout the weekend as the country remains under the influence of a mild Atlantic flow.

Mr Daly said that Met Éireann only predicted the weather four or five days ahead.

“We don’t do long-range forecasts and we would like to see the science used by those claiming to do so,” he said.