Orange weather warning issued as national emergency group to meet tomorrow
A robin on the icy grass at Farran Wood, Co Cork, in the current spell of cold weather.
A status orange low temperature and ice warning is to come into effect tomorrow afternoon for all of Ireland, bringing "severe frost and icy stretches".
The warning, which was published this afternoon by Met Eireann, warns of patches of freezing fog also.
It comes into effect at 5pm tomorrow and will be in place until midday Monday, with temperatures likely to fall below -5C in many areas.
The National Emergency Coordination Group are set to convene tomorrow morning to assess the current situation and decide on action to be taken.
Depending on the outcome of the meeting, public safety advice may be issued with it possible that emergency services, local authorities and transport operators may need to take action.
Met Eireann, all government departments and councils will attend the meeting along with the Housing Minister to decide how best to monitor the situation.
Currently, a status yellow freezing fog warning and a separate low temperature and ice warning is in place nationwide until midday tomorrow, with motorists warned of "potentially hazardous travel conditions."
Dublin, Kildare and Wicklow are under a status yellow snow warning until midday tomorrow meanwhile, with the forecaster stating "snow showers will lead to accumulations in places, most substantial over high ground".
A country-wide status yellow low temperature and ice warning comes into effect tonight from 10pm, with the forecaster warning of "sharp frost and further icy stretches" as temperatures drop to as low as -5C in spots.
Forecasters have extended ice and freezing fog warnings for Ireland, as at least 50 flights were cancelled in and out of Dublin today.
Airlines cancelled at least 23 outbound flights and 27 inbound flights on Saturday.
It comes after 69 departing flights and 74 inbound flights were cancelled last night.
The Dublin Airport Authority (DAA) said airlines have responsibility for de-icing planes, and this is what has caused the delays.
DAA media relations manager Graeme McQueen said its teams were stationed in the airport terminals overnight to try to help passengers rebook.
“All surfaces at Dublin Airport including runways, aprons, stands, roads and walkways were pre-emptively treated through the night and are fully open and operational again today as they were for the entire day on Friday,” he said.
“DAA’s teams were on hand in the terminals during the night to help passengers seeking to rebook their cancelled journeys from Friday, providing water etc to those waiting at airline desks.”
In a statement to the PA news agency, Ryanair said: “We are experiencing only some very minor delays/cancellations to our flights from Dublin today as a result of the ongoing icy weather conditions.
“While our teams are working hard to minimise any disruption caused to our customers as a result of these severe weather conditions, which are entirely beyond our control, Ryanair advises all customers flying from Dublin Airport today to check the Ryanair website/app for flight status updates before travelling to the airport.
“We sincerely apologise to affected customers for any inconvenience caused.”
Forecasters said the icy conditions and freezing fog could make paths and roads more dangerous, and warned drivers to be on the lookout for black ice.
Concerns have been raised in particular for the welfare of older people who live alone, for those sleeping rough, and asylum seekers housed in tented accommodations.
In Northern Ireland, a snow and ice warning is in place for counties Antrim and Down until noon on Sunday.
Check out the Irish Examiner's WEATHER CENTRE for regularly updated short and long range forecasts wherever you are.
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