Temperatures plunge to -7.5C as another orange warning comes into effect

Snow covered trees line the road into Ballydesmond, Co Cork. Picture: Dan Linehan

A status orange low temperature and ice warning for 15 counties has come into effect, with yet more "extremely cold" conditions forecast. 

The warning, which applies to Carlow, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois, Longford, Meath, Offaly, Westmeath, Cavan, Donegal, Monaghan, Galway, Leitrim, Roscommon, and Tipperary, remains in place until 8am on Friday morning. 

Until then, conditions across most of the country will be "extremely cold with widespread severe frost and ice, along with lying snow in some areas," according to Met Éireann. 

The forecaster has warned of:

• Hazardous road and walking conditions;
• Travel disruption and delays; 
• Animal welfare issues; 
• Poor visibility.

Meanwhile, a status yellow low temperature and ice warning remains in place nationwide until midday Friday.

Overnight Temperatures 

Temperatures plunged to -7.5C on Wednesday night, with that temperature being recorded in Mullingar. 

Other low temperatures were recorded in Athenry (-7C) as well as Shannon (-4C).

The lowest temperature ever seen in Ireland was -19.1C, which was recorded in Sligo in 1881.

Travel Hazards 

Making their way home in the snow from the shops were Jamie O'Keffe, Claire Murphy and Barry O'Leary in Kanturk, Co Cork. Picture: Dan Linehan

Persist Met Éireann forecaster Matthew Martin cautioned that travel conditions will remain dangerous as temperatures are not expected to rise above freezing today, preventing any thaw. 

Speaking on RTÉ’s Morning Ireland, he also noted that freezing fog in some areas will further complicate driving.

Power Outages and Emergency Response 

Approximately 500 homes were without power overnight. An ESB spokesperson said crews are “mobilising this morning to restore power in affected areas.” 

Uisce Éireann said its crews are still working in freezing conditions to restore water supply to the remaining 1,000 or so customers, down from a high of 18,000 on Monday.

9th January 2025; No snow in Cork city, but the North West of the county still covered as seen from Maryborough Hill, Cork.   Picture: Eddie O'Hare

Keith Leonard, director of the National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management, said the severe weather is expected to ease within “the next 24 to 48 hours.”

The focus for the emergency team is to “keep the country moving” and ensure that roads are clear and that public transport is operating, he told RTÉ. 

He said the priority is returning power and water to people, “but there is light at the end of the tunnel with conditions improving tomorrow".

“We're hoping that the power issues will be pretty much resolved, I think, in the next 24 hours. Water, I understand, might take a little bit longer, but by the weekend we would hope to have normal operations across all categories.”

The national emergency team will meet today to assess the situation and may reconvene tomorrow.

The army has been drafted in to clear snow and ice from roads in the worst affected areas of north Cork and Limerick as the authorities pledged on Thursday night to continue working to provide access to isolated rural areas.

Facilities for Those Without Power 

A social gathering in the middle of the road in the snow covered village of Ballydesmond on the Cork Kerry border. Picture: Dan Linehan

The ESB has arranged for affected customers to use facilities at local hotels, where they can recharge phones, have a hot meal, and refresh. 

Customers must provide their MPRN number and are advised to travel only if safe.

Facilities will be available on Thursday at:

• Longcourt Hotel, Newcastlewest, Co Limerick (12pm–8pm); 
• Leens Hotel, Abbeyfeale, Co Limerick (12pm–6pm); 
• Charleville Park Hotel, Charleville, Co Cork (12pm–6pm); 
• Horse and Jockey Hotel, Thurles, Co Tipperary (12pm–6pm). 

Local Challenges 

Cork County Council reported significant challenges in north and north-west Cork due to compacted snow and ice. 

Vast areas of countryside in north Cork, Tipperary, Limerick and parts of Kerry are still blanketed in deep snow, with many communities still cut off and schools still closed.

Defence Forces trucks were deployed along with external contractors in North and North West Cork on Thursday with a focus on clearing areas worst affected by compacted snow and ice.

“We will continue to respond over the coming days to provide access to isolated communities and households,” a spokesman for Cork County Council said.

No snow in Cork city, but the North West of the county still covered as seen from Maryborough Hill, Cork Picture: Eddie O'Hare

Weather Outlook 

Met Éireann predicts another bitterly cold night tonight, with temperatures ranging from -7C to -2C. 

However, conditions are expected to improve on Friday, with milder overnight temperatures of 1C to 5C forecast.

Speaking this afternoon, Met Éireann’s head of forecasting Eoin Sherlock said this "prolonged spell of cold, impactful weather is coming to its end this weekend" when milder conditions will begin to develop.

However, he said Thursday and Friday will remain very cold, with widespread sharp frost and icy stretches forecast once again.

"A weather front will approach the southwest coast on Thursday night and will start to slowly move north-eastwards overnight and through Friday," he said.

"It will still be cold for many counties on Friday morning with difficult conditions and temperatures will be slow to increase through the day."

On Friday night, Mr Sherlock said temperatures would fall just below freezing in some parts of the country.

It is important to note that there will still be dangerous conditions on Thursday and in some places on Friday.

WEATHER CENTRE

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