Ireland is braced for Sunday weather chaos with multiple warnings issued that will impact the entire country.
Status Yellow alerts for low temperatures, ice and freezing fog are in place nationwide until noon, with the alerts reading: “A sharp frost and further icy stretches will set in on Saturday night as temperatures dip to -5C degrees in places. Pockets of freezing fog are expected, causing potentially hazardous travel conditions.”
A further Status Yellow alert for snow impacts Dublin, Kildare and Wicklow, also until noon, with forecasters warning: “Snow showers will lead to accumulations in places, most substantial over high ground.”
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Then at 5pm, a Status Orange warning - Met Eireann’s second highest - for low temperatures and ice kicks in for the entire country and lasts until noon Monday. It warns: “A severe frost and further icy stretches will set in on Sunday night, accompanied by patches of freezing fog. Temperatures likely to fall below -5C in many areas.”
It comes as a Met Eireann weather maps show temperatures falling as low as -10C on Monday morning.
Meanwhile, today’s forecast reads: “Very cold this morning with a widespread severe frost, ice on roads and paths as well as patches of freezing fog, lingering in places through the day. Wintry showers will also occur - mainly along northern eastern counties, though most areas will be dry with winter sunshine. Temperatures only reaching 0C to 4C degrees in light, occasionally moderate, northerly or variable breezes.
“Bitterly cold tonight with temperatures falling between -7C to -4C degrees widely, locally lower. Dry for most though wintry showers will occur, especially in the northwest with accumulations of snow possible. Freezing fog will also develop widely in light variable breezes, falling near calm at times.”
Looking ahead to tomorrow, Met Eireann said: “A bright and bitterly cold morning tomorrow with severe frost, icy conditions on roads and paths and freezing fog, all leading to very hazardous travelling conditions. The frost, fog and ice will linger in places through the day. Wintry showers will also continue in the northwest, with a few moving into eastern and southern counties through the day. Temperatures reaching just -2C to 3C, coldest where the fog lingers. Light to moderate easterly breezes.
“Very cold and largely dry with just some wintry showers, most likely along eastern coasts. A widespread sharp to severe frost and icy conditions will set in as temperatures fall as low as -7C to -1C, coldest over the midlands and north. Patches of freezing fog will form too in light east to northeast breezes, possibly increasing fresh in the southwest with the chance of falls of rain, sleet and snow there.”
Met Eireann’s forecast for the rest of the week reads: “Another very cold day on Tuesday with frost and ice persisting through the day. Largely dry with sunshine though with wintry showers persisting in northwestern and eastern coastal counties and the chance of further falls of rain, sleet and snow in the southwest. Daytime temperatures will only reach 0C to 4C in light to moderate northerly winds, fresher near northern and western coasts.
“Very cold Tuesday night though dry for most. Wintry showers will occur, mainly near coastal areas. Widespread severe frost and ice are expected with minimum temperatures of -6C to -1C. Northerly winds will be light to moderate for most but continuing fresher along northern and western coasts.
“Wednesday and Thursday Continuing very cold both by day and night with widespread severe frost and ice leading to treacherous conditions. Most areas will stay dry though further wintry showers are expected, mainly affecting coastal areas. Temperatures will range from 1C to 4C by day, widely dropping to between -6C and -2C at night.”
The cold blast could continue into next weekend. The national forecaster said: “A good deal of uncertainty in the forecast further out. Current indications suggest that while it will still be cold, it won't be as cold as previous days. Further frost, ice and wintry showers possible at times.”
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