IRELAND faced a “cold and treacherous” start to the day after 5mm of snow hit the country overnight and traffic and travel chaos ensued this morning.
Status Orange snow warnings kicked in for several Munster counties and Galway from midnight, with several other Yellow level alerts also in place across the country.
Traffic chaos has hit in counties such as Galway after snowfall last night[/caption]
Temperatures are set to plummet to -4C again tonight[/caption]
And snow has already fallen throughout Ireland with footage from Co Mayo – which is under a status yellow warning – showing heavy snowfall and roads lined with white sheets.
The national forecaster warned of a treacherous start to the day this morning as frost, ice, lying snow and spot flooding bash the country.
Met Eireann said: “A very cold AND treacherous start, with lying snow across parts of the Midlands, West & Southwest frost & ice too with spot flooding across southern fringes
“Wintry outbreaks will clear southwards with sunshine & scattered wintry showers following
“Highs of just 1 to 4C”
Around 5cm of snow or more was predicted to fall in Galway, Cork, Waterford, Clare, Limerick and Tipperary, during the -4C Baltic blast.
A 12-hour snow and rain orange warning kicked in for Cork and Waterford from midnight, while Galway, Clare, Limerick and Tipperary, will be on orange alert for snow and ice for the same time period.
A status yellow low temperature ice warning is in place for the entire country until 12pm today.
While there is a snow-ice warning in place in Carlow, Dublin, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois, Offaly, Wicklow, Galway, Mayo, Roscommon, Westmeath, Longford and the province of Munster.
These warnings will cause “hazardous travelling conditions, poor visibility, travel disruption and possible animal welfare issues.”
Traffic chaos ensued this morning – with gardai in Mayo having warned of hazardous road conditions – particularly between Westport and Castlebar on the N5.
Galway has also seen snowfall – with travel on rural roads impacted .
A number of trees have fallen down due to heavy snowfall, according to RTE.
TRAFFIC CHAOS
The national broadcaster has reported a number of road traffic incidents on the M6 motorway – with a one-car crash near Junction 14 between Loughrea and Athenry.
As well as another crash between the Ballinasloe exit on the motorway, which is causing delays around the Conamara area.
A truck jackknifed at the N59 between Moycullan and Oughterard and local diversions are in place.
A number of minor collisions have also been reported in Galway city.
A single vehicle collision has also been reported between J5 Cratloe and J4 Cratloemoyle in Co Clare.
Transport Infrastructure Ireland warned: “Some delays to your journey may occur.
“When approaching the collision location, drive with caution, reduce your speed and please obey instructions form emergency services.”
Around 20mm of rain battered Co Cork since midnight, with some reports of sleet around Mallow causing rain pools on roads.
It is reported some schools have opened late or closed for the day as a safety precaution today and there are travel disruptions on Bus Eireann routes due to the weather.
HEAVIEST SNOW IN MAYO
Taoiseach Simon Harris urged the public to stay safe during the snowfall after a meeting with the national emergency management team last night.
Carlow Weather‘s Alan O’Reilly said that Mayo has seen the heaviest of the snow despite only having a yellow warning.
O’Reilly said: “Plenty of snow in parts of the west, Mayo in particular, which didn’t have an orange warning but did get the heaviest snow by the looks of it.
“Galway as well into Clare, it is rain turning to snow then in Limerick, north Cork, then in Kerry.
“Some reports of even other parts of Cork turning to snow.
“The heaviest does look to have stayed in the southwest and as that rain pulls away it will turn to snow.”
The weather boffin warned that today will remain cold with temperatures expected to drop throughout the day in parts.
COLD DAY AHEAD
He continued: “Now very little thaw today, a very cold day, temperatures actually dropping in Cork as this pulls away.
“So it will be an icy day where that snow has fallen.
“Another cold night tonight with frost as well and then cold tomorrow, but then turning wet and windy and much milder Friday night into Saturday.
“So if you didn’t get the snow you were hoping for, I’m sorry, if you got more than you wanted, I’m also sorry but that is the joy of forecasting snow in Ireland.”
Met Eireann has said that most wintry outbreaks of snow, sleet and rain will clear by mid-morning, lingering in southern counties until midday.
-4C TEMP PLUNGE
The forecaster said: “A very cold and treacherous start to Thursday, with lying snow across parts of the Midlands, West and Southwest; frost and ice in places too, with spot flooding across southern fringes.
“Wintry outbreaks of snow, sleet and rain will clear most areas by mid-morning, and southern counties by midday.
“While sunshine will develop, a few scattered wintry showers will follow into Atlantic counties. Icy stretches will linger through the day in places.
“Highest temperatures of just 1 to 4 degrees in a chilly northerly winds, brisk across Munster.”
Tonight is predicted to see frost and icy stretches hit the country with some scattered sleet and snow showers as temperatures plummet to -4C.
The forecaster added: “Tonight will be very cold with widespread frost and icy stretches.
“Scattered wintry showers of rain, sleet and snow will occur with clearest skies across the Midlands and Southeast.
“Lowest temperatures of -4 to +1 degrees in moderate westerly winds.”
Snow also hit Northern Ireland[/caption]
Wintry showers of rain, sleet and snow have battered Ireland[/caption]
Taoiseach Simon Harris urged the public to stay safe during the cold snap[/caption]
