'Treacherous' road conditions as Met Éireann issues fresh ice warnings
Schools in many counties have delayed opening, including in Cork, as temperatures hit lows of -5.3C in Athenry on Sunday. File picture: Dan Linehan
Met Éireann has issued fresh weather warnings as the country braces for the "treacherous travel conditions" brought by the recent cold snap.
Schools in many counties delayed opening, including in Cork, as temperatures hit lows of -5.3C in Athenry on Sunday.
Two warnings have been in place since 11am on Monday and will remain until 9am on Tuesday. They are:
- A status yellow low temperature and ice warning for all of Munster and Leinster, as well as Cavan, Monaghan, Galway, and Roscommon.
- A status yellow snow-ice warning for Donegal, Leitrim, Mayo, and Sligo.
Met Éireann said counties impacted by the low temperature warning will see the mercury fall to lows of between -1C and -3C, while the forecaster is also warning of sharp frost, icy stretches, and black ice.
In Donegal, Leitrim, Mayo, and Sligo, Met Éireann said there will be wintry showers with sleet and some snow accumulations.
The forecaster is warning of "treacherous" and "hazardous" travel conditions as well as poor visibility.
Cork County Council senior executive engineer Brendan O'Groman said conditions on national roads are good, but untreated roads, particularly tertiary roads, could be dangerous.
Mr O'Gorman told RTÉ's that snow was seen in areas such as Newmarket and around the Kerry border.
A spokesperson for Cork City Council told the that its Roads Winter Plan has been implemented with crews salting roads and "treating high-trafficked footpaths in the city centre".
The defined salting routes prioritise main traffic routes, bus routes and other areas such as those adjacent to hospitals and schools for the winter maintenance season. Bridges are also salted, especially in the city centre in areas of greatest pedestrian movement.
Salting routes on the Northside of the city include Thomas Davis Bridge at Sundays Well, Western Road, Mardyke, Sheares St., Washington St, Grand Parade and South Mall, Parnell Place, Merchant's Quay and Camden Quay.
The southside areas that are being salted include Anglesea St, Wilton Road, Douglas Road, Kinsale Road and College Road and South Terrace.
In Northern Ireland, more than 180 schools closed due to the cold spell.
More generally, Met Éireann said Monday will be "very cold" with frost and icy stretches on untreated surfaces being slow to clear. It will be a dry and sunny day for most areas, with wintry showers mainly confined to north and northwest fringes by midday.
Temperatures are expected to reach highs of just 1C to 6C on Monday, but this will fall back to lows of -3C by nighttime. Monday evening will see the weather remain cold and dry with clear spells for most at first, though wintry showers "will become more widespread in the north for a time early on".
"Widespread frost and icy stretches will form early on along with patches of mist and fog. Cloud will build from the west overnight, raising temperatures slightly, and outbreaks of rain or sleet will reach Atlantic coastal areas by morning," Met Éireann said.
The temperature will begin to rise on Tuesday, with highs of 3C to 8C expected. It will be a cold and dry start in the eastern half of the country on Tuesday, with frost and icy patches.
"Outbreaks of rain and drizzle in the west will move eastwards through the morning and early afternoon, becoming patchier as they do. Sunny spells and scattered showers will follow," said Met Éireann.
The rest of the week will see low pressure dominate our weather, bringing unsettled conditions with spells of rain spreading from the Atlantic.
Tuesday night will see temperatures again drop below freezing, but it will be milder than previous nights, with lows of -1C to 3C expected. Any showers along Atlantic coasts will ease early on, leaving dry conditions with clear spells.
Wednesday will see patchy rain and drizzle spread across the country from the west, possibly turning to sleet over higher ground. It will remain cold in the east and northeast with highest temperatures of 3C to 5C, but milder in the west and south with highest temperatures of 5C to 9C.
Rain will clear eastwards early on on Wednesday night with clear spells and isolated showers following. Met Éireann said the lowest temperatures will fall to just 0C to 4C.
Heading into the latter half of the week, Met Éireann said "there is uncertainty in the details", but rain is likely to spread over the southern half of the country on Thursday with scattered showers further north.
Friday, meanwhile, is likely to see a mix of sunny spells and showers, mainly affecting Atlantic coastal counties.
Temperatures on both days are likely to be around 3C to 7C.
Check out the Irish Examiner's WEATHER CENTRE for regularly updated short and long range forecasts wherever you are.
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