Fears schools will have to close this week as temperatures set to plummet to -10C
Met Eireann has warned that the cold snap will create difficult travelling conditions and poor visibility
The country is bracing itself for one of the worst cold snaps in years with snowstorms and temperatures set to drop to as low as -10C during the week.
Ireland is facing what Met Eireann described a “multi-weather hazard event” with Taoiseach Simon Harris yesterday saying he has been briefed on the “severe cold snap” expected to be felt late into next week.
The national forecaster warned the freezing temperatures will lead to very difficult travelling conditions, poor visibility, delays to public transport.
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The freeze-up has already led to the cancellation of major sporting events yesterday and today and there are fears that schools around the country will have to close during the week.
The government’s Emergency Planning Team yesterday held a meeting to plan for the week ahead as a mass of Arctic air dominates the country’s weather for the next few days.
The public is being urged not to make unnecessary journeys and to take extreme caution if they have to travel.
Senior Met Eireann forecaster Gerry Murphy said people in some of the counties covered by Status Orange warnings will have to cope with up to 10cm of snow which might stay on the ground due to plummeting temperatures.
He added: “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.”
Weather warnings came into effect yesterday, with Status Orange snow and ice alerts issued for Carlow, Kilkenny, Laois, Offaly, Wicklow, Clare, Limerick and Tipperary which will last until 5pm today. Met Eireann added Waterford to the list of counties under a Status Orange rain and snow warning.
Cork and Kerry were already under this warning until 5pm today. Cavan, Donegal, Monaghan, Dublin, Kildare, Longford, Louth, Meath, Westmeath and all of Connacht came under a 24-hour Status Yellow snow and ice warning at 5pm yesterday.
Mr Harris took to Instagram yesterday to warn about the challenges faced by the freeze-up.
He stated: “Please proceed with extreme caution, because we are expecting very, very dangerous travelling conditions over the course of the next number of hours and potentially the next number of days.
“We have activated the cold weather emergency plan for rough sleepers and also for those in international protection.”
Older people’s charity Alone has appealed to any older person to seek support if they are in need.
Its chief executive Sean Moynihan said: “We’re asking people to look out for the older and more vulnerable members of the community.”
Keith Leonard, national director of the National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management, added: “I urge people to slow down, drive with caution, be aware of other road users and allow extra time for your journey.”
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