Orange weather warnings are in place for 11 counties as up to 10cm of snow is expected to fall in some areas, Met Éireann has said, as the country enters the second day of what the forecaster has called a “multi-weather hazard event”.
The forecaster has said the cold snap will lead to very difficult travelling conditions, poor visibility, delays to public transport, difficult conditions underfoot as well as animal welfare issues.
A 24-hour Status Orange snow warning will remain in place across Munster and south Leinster until 5pm this evening, with the rest of the country covered by yellow snow and ice alerts until then.
A Status Orange rain and snow warning is in place for Cork, Kerry, Waterford with Met Éireann forecasting heavy rain transitioning to sleet and snow with significant accumulations expected.
A Status Orange snow-Ice warning is in place for Carlow, Kilkenny, Laois, Offaly, Wicklow, Clare, Limerick, Tipperary. Met Éireann is warning of significant snowfall accumulations expected in these counties too.
Local authority crews have been working to clear routes impacted by heavy snowfalls and councils will continue to monitor the situation throughout the day.
The wintery weather is set to continue into next week, with a cold Arctic northerly airflow following later tonight.
The associated low temperatures have led to another ice warning for the entire country, effective from 5pm today until midday tomorrow.
The delayed thaw means lying snow is expected to persist in some areas for several more days to come.
(credit: RollingNews.ie)
Senior Forecaster with Met Éireann Gerry Murphy said night temperatures will drop as “very cold air comes in behind it which means there will be a very sharp frost and widespread frost and ice and on top of lying snow, as we go through Sunday night into Monday, so people need to be very well prepared for very tricky travelling conditions”.
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The most significant snowfall accumulations are expected across parts of Munster and south Leinster.
The Conor Pass is closed due to adverse weather conditions and heavy snowfall pic.twitter.com/PueahtCecs
— Kerry County Council – Comhairle Contae Chiarraí (@countykerry) January 4, 2025
N21 at Barna Gap tonight. @LimerickCouncil working to keep the road open. Avoid if possible. Elevation and snow accumulations creating difficult conditions. #Limerick
📽️ by passenger pic.twitter.com/oT83zjSXwO— Limerick Council – Comhairle Luimnigh (@LimerickCouncil) January 5, 2025
The National Emergency Co-ordination Group held a virtual meeting yesterday to discuss the weather event.
In a statement, National Director of the National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management Keith Leonard said: “We are going to see difficult travel conditions for much of the country in the coming days.
“Driving conditions will be hazardous, even where roads are gritted – so I urge people to slow down, drive with caution, be aware of other road users and allow extra time for your journey. It’s important that drivers travelling longer journeys are aware of conditions right along their route, as the weather may vary significantly across different parts of the country.”
Yellow warnings
A Status Yellow rain warning is in effect for Cork, Kerry and Waterford until 5pm.
A Status Yellow rain and snow warning is also in effect for Wexford, with Met Éireann warning of heavy rain transitioning to sleet and snow. The warning is valid until 5pm also.
⚠️Status Yellow Warning: Low Temperature/Ice has been issued for Ireland⚠️
Very cold with widespread frost and ice.❄️🥶
Potential Impacts:
➡️Hazardous travelling conditions
➡️Icy patches
➡️Travel disruptionValid: 17:00 Sunday 05/01/2025 to 12:00 Monday 06/01/2025 pic.twitter.com/r5OJ3lumAa
— Met Éireann (@MetEireann) January 4, 2025
Meanwhile, Cavan, Donegal, Monaghan, Dublin, Kildare, Longford, Louth, Meath, Westmeath and all of Connacht are currently under a Status Yellow snow and ice warning until 5pm today.
Met Éireann said that given the cold conditions are set to last late into next week, any snow that falls over the weekend will be slow to clear, which could lead to further complications and more sustained hazardous travelling conditions.
A Status Yellow snow and ice warning is in place for Antrim, Armagh, Down, Fermanagh, Tyrone and Derry. This warning will end at 6pm this evening.
Warning to drivers
With significant accumulations of snow in some regions, especially across the midlands and southwest drivers are being warned of hazardous travelling conditions.
People are advised to consider if the journey merits the risk of driving in adverse conditions.
If you must make the journey, you should allow extra time for travelling and ensure that your headlights and taillights are all in working order.
Travel disruption
A number of Bus Éireann services in the western region were affected by the bad weather with cancellations of the 343 bus in the early hours of this morning. Passengers are advised to check the Bus Éireann website for further updates.
In the UK both Liverpool and Manchester airports have closed their runways as they work to clear snow.
Additional reporting Marc O’Driscoll, Pat McGrath and Colman O’Sullivan
