Sleet and snow forecast as Met Éireann issues three separate weather warnings

Sleet and snow accumulations are possible across the country with the forecaster issuing two status yellow snow and ice warnings for Thursday. File picture: Denis Minihane

Wed, 07 Feb, 2024 - 12:13

Sally Gorman

Temperatures are set to plummet to below freezing over the coming days, with Met Éireann issuing three separate weather warnings for the coming days.

Sleet and snow accumulations are possible across the country with the forecaster issuing two status yellow snow and ice warnings for Thursday.

The first, which will affect Clare, Tipperary, Galway, Laois, Offaly, Westmeath and Wicklow, will kick in at 3am and end at 1pm.

The second warning will come into effect at 5am on Thursday and run until 8pm that night. It will impact Cavan, Donegal, Monaghan, Leitrim, Mayo, Roscommon, Sligo and Longford.

Under the warnings, sleet and snow may lead to accumulations which will be "most significant on higher ground."

The forecaster said possible impacts may include hazardous driving conditions, poor visibility, and ice on untreated surfaces.

Elsewhere, a status yellow rain warning for Carlow, Dublin, Kildare, Louth, Meath, Wexford, and Wicklow will come into place at 5am on Thursday for a 24 hour period.

According to Met Éireann, localised flooding may occur as rain and sleet couples with blustery easterly winds.

More generally, frost and ice will set in for a time on Wednesday night, and "outbreaks of rain will turn to sleet and snow", especially across the west and north midlands.

Temperatures are expected to drop as low as -2C.

Thursday will begin cloudy and breezy with outbreaks of rain, sleet and snow.

Met Éireann say that moderate accumulations are possible, especially across the north, west, and north midlands, and "a light dusting is possible elsewhere".

It will be "cold with an added wind chill factor" and highest temperatures of 2C to 6C are predicted generally.

Rain and sleet will persist on Thursday night and temperatures could drop to 0C, while on Friday, things will "stay unsettled" with scattered outbreaks of rain.

Friday night looks set to be "calm with long clear spells", but temperatures could drop as low as -1C with frost and ice.

Looking ahead to the weekend, Saturday will be generally cloudy with scattered outbreaks of rain, most prevalent across the south and east, and Sunday will stay unsettled with further scattered showers, which may "turn wintry in parts".

ieExplains: Why are we seeing so many storms this season?