Ice warning for eight counties: Cold spell end in sight but rain to set in this week

Mon, 04 Dec, 2023 - 13:33

Sally Gorman

Met Éireann has issued a status yellow low temperature and ice warning for eight counties, with temperatures to plunge to -4C.

And while the cold spell will continue for the next two days, it is set to break this week, with milder temperatures to come.

The warning, which will come into effect from 6pm on Monday, will affect all of Connacht, Longford, Offaly, and Westmeath.

The forecaster said the weather would be "very cold with frost and ice", leading to potentially hazardous driving conditions, slippery conditions underfoot, and animal welfare issues.

The warning is due to end at 10am on Tuesday.

More generally on Monday, the weather will be cold and mostly dry with sunny spells, however, some showers of sleet or hail are possible in the afternoon.

Monday night "will be very cold and mostly dry with clear spells". Met Éireann said there would "patchy light rain or drizzle at times near the east coast and there will be isolated showers in the west" while "patches of fog or freezing fog are possible too".

Temperatures are expected to fall to lows of -4C to 2C.

Tuesday will see a frosty and icy start for many, with isolated patches of fog or freezing fog again. This will eventually clear to leave a mainly dry, bright day with spells of sunshine. Lowest temperatures on Tuesday night will range from -2C to 4C.

Met Éireann added it would become milder from the southwest through the night, "as outbreaks of rain gradually extends northeastwards across the country along with freshening south east winds".

"There might be some sleet on the leading edge of the rainfall, but it will be very short-lived if it occurs at all."

Cold snap at an end

Temperatures will climb on Wednesday, with an end in sight for the recent cold spell.

It will be "a cloudy, rather windy day, with outbreaks of rain which will become heavy at times, especially across parts of Munster and south Leinster, with the likelihood of some spot flooding," according to Met Éireann.

Temperatures will reach highs of 7C to 11C during the day, falling to 5C to 9C overnight.

"On Thursday, another spell of rain will spread across the country from the southwest, with some heavy falls and the ongoing chance of spot flooding," said Met Éireann. It will again be mild, with temperatures hitting 8C to 11C.

"Heavy rain will continue to clear from the north on Thursday night, otherwise there'll be a mix of clear spells and showers, some heavy, especially in parts of the south and southwest."

Looking ahead to the weekend, further spells of wet and windy weather with temperatures around average for this time of year are expected.

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