Met Éireann warns of 'severe frost and ice' as temperatures to drop to -4C

Met Éireann says the cold snap will bring sharp or severe frost and icy stretches, creating dangerous conditions on roads and footpaths

A status yellow low-temperature and ice warning will come into effect from Saturday evening across much of the country, with Met Éireann warning of hazardous travel conditions as temperatures fall well below freezing.

From 6pm on Saturday, the warning will apply to Munster, Carlow, Dublin, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois, Longford, Meath, Offaly, Westmeath, Wexford and Wicklow, where temperatures are forecast to drop to between -2C and -4C. 

The alert will remain in place until 11am on Sunday.

Met Éireann says the cold snap will bring sharp or severe frost and icy stretches, creating dangerous conditions on roads and footpaths.

A separate status yellow snow and ice warning will also take effect from 6pm on Saturday for Cavan, Donegal, Monaghan, all of Connacht and Louth.

That warning, which will also remain in place until 11am on Sunday, warns of wintry showers with some snow accumulations, along with frost and ice leading to poor visibility and hazardous travel conditions.

National forecast

Met Éireann says Saturday morning will be cold and frosty, with some lying snow.

Today will be cold with frost, ice & some lying snow this morning🥶❄️

Plenty of dry & sunny weather but scattered wintry showers will continue, mainly affecting the north & west but with the odd flurry possible elsewhere🌤️

Warnings➡️https://t.co/w5QtJ1V6un

Highs of 2 to 6C pic.twitter.com/9PkDSBdSju

— Met Éireann (@MetEireann) January 3, 2026

Saturday afternoon will be dry and sunny, though wintry showers will continue to affect parts of the north and west. 

Daytime temperatures will remain in the low single digits, ranging from 2C to 6C.

Saturday night will be “very cold with a sharp to severe frost and icy stretches”, with scattered wintry showers in the north and west and further snow accumulations possible.

Patches of fog or freezing fog will also develop, as temperatures in most areas fall to between -4C and 0C.

Sunday will be another cold and frosty day, with early morning ice and fog or freezing fog slow to clear.

Conditions will be dry and sunny in the southeast, while scattered wintry showers will affect other areas, bringing additional snow accumulations. 

Highest temperatures will range from 1C to 5C, with light to moderate westerly winds.

Sunday night will turn very cold again, with further sharp to severe frost and icy stretches. 

Met Éireann says fog or freezing fog is likely once more, as temperatures drop to between -4C and 0C in light to moderate northwesterly winds.