Ireland snow weather warning extended as Met Eireann names affected areas and gives new end date

Ireland is currently engulfed in a bitter cold snap - which is set to worsen in the coming days. Met Eireann has warned daytime temperatures will struggle to rise above freezing, while nighttime lows will drop to a bone-chilling -8C.

Snowfall over the weekend has left parts of the country at a standstill with some schools and workplaces forced to shut today. The snow, coupled with a prolonged freeze, means hazardous conditions are expected to persist, making travelling treacherous.

Met Eireann issued several weather warnings over the weekend, including Status Orange alerts. While these have since expired, a new Status Yellow warning for low temperatures and ice is now in place for the entire country.

The Status Yellow alert - which has been extended to last for five days - is in place until noon on Thursday. It warns: "Very cold nights with widespread frost and ice. Temperatures struggling to get above freezing during the day. Potential impacts include hazardous travelling conditions, icy patches and travel disruption."

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The national forecaster has also given the end date for the cold snap, saying the weather will be "less cold" from Friday, January 10. It added that areas in the north and west are most at risk of wintry showers in the coming days.

Giving a day-by-day breakdown of what to expect, the weather service said: "Bitterly cold Monday with widespread frost and lying snow. There'll be sunshine and scattered showers of rain, hail, sleet and snow. Top temperatures generally ranging from 1C to 5C but staying below freezing over snow-fields. Northwesterly winds will increase moderate to fresh and gusty, stronger for a time in Atlantic areas. Clear spells Monday night and scattered sleet and snow showers, the showers most frequent in the west and north. Widespread frost and ice with lowest temperatures of -5C to 0C in moderate west to northwest winds.

"Another very cold day Tuesday with sunshine and further scattered few wintry showers in the west and north of the country. Frost and ice will linger in some areas all day with highest temperatures ranging from 0C to 5C degrees in moderate northwest winds. Bitterly cold Tuesday night with severe frost as minimum temperatures range from -8C to -3C in light westerly or variable winds. Areas of freezing fog will develop in some areas leading to hazardous travelling conditions. Still a few wintry showers along the north coast.

"Very cold on Wednesday with areas of ice and freezing fog lingering in some areas throughout the day. Where the fog does clear there will be spells of sunshine. Maximum afternoon temperatures will generally range from -3C to 3C in mostly light westerly winds. Further wintry showers in the north and northwest. Another bitterly cold night on Wednesday night with widespread frost and ice along with areas of freezing fog developing again. Some sleet and snow showers along northern and northwestern coastal areas. Lowest temperatures of -8C to -2C."A mainly dry chilly day Thursday with sunshine, however frost and freezing fog may linger in southern parts. Maximum afternoon temperatures of -2C to 5C , with light variable winds. Rain, sleet and snow spreading northeastwards on Thursday night. Lowest temperatures of 0C to 4C , in moderate to fresh southeasterly winds.

"Less cold on Friday with outbreaks of rain spreading eastwards and becoming lighter through the day. Highest temperatures of 3C to 6C with light southeasterly breezes."

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