Main points
- Snow, ice and heavy rain are set to sweep over Ireland this weekend with two status orange weather alerts issued by Met Éireann
- A 24-hour orange snow and ice warning comes into effect from 5pm on Saturday for Carlow, Kilkenny, Laois, Offaly, Wicklow, Clare, Limerick and Tipperary
- A separate orange rain and snow warning for Cork, Kerry and Waterford for the same 24-hour period has also been issued, with “heavy rain transitioning to sleet and snow” expected
- Status yellow weather warnings have been issued for all other counties
- The low temperatures will extend into early next week as a separate status yellow low temperature/ice warning has been put in place across Ireland from 5pm on Sunday until midday on Monday.
That’s it for live weather updates for this evening, check back tomorrow for continuing live weather coverage.
Meterologist Mark Bowe of Met Eireann told Virgin Media News at 5.30pm that rain which is currently falling in Munster and southern parts of Leinster is going to transition to sleet and snow.
“The snow will fall in higher ground in parts of Munster and it will spread north as we go through the rest of this evening, continuing overnight tonight and into tomorrow. We are going to see widespread falls of rain which will be heavy at times particularly in the west.
“It is going to transition to a mix of rain, sleet and snow. So we are expecting the most significant of those accumulations to be across higher ground particularly across our southern counties in parts of Munster and also in to parts of Leinster.”
Uisce Éireann is reminding the public to protect their water pipes amid the freezing cold weather.
Water expands by nearly 10 per cent as it freezes and turns into ice, which stops the flow of water through pipes. This can even cause new pipes to split. Uisce Éireann is urging people do their bit to help avoid expensive repairs and a disrupted water supply at home or in their business/farm by taking a few easy preventative measures.
These include checking outside pipes that can become frozen and burst during periods of cold weather and, if possible, turn off water supply to these areas or to any unoccupied premises.
Alternatively, members of the public may consider setting the heating to come on periodically at a lower temperature. This allows warm air to circulate and will help to prevent pipes and tanks from freezing in the cold weather.
Uisce Éireann spokesperson Margaret Attridge said with temperatures dipping below zero it is very important to continue the regular maintenance of your property, protect outside taps and farm troughs, and check empty premises.
“It is also a good idea to familiarise yourself with your own internal water system and particularly how to turn off your supply at the stopcock so that you can protect your property in the event of a burst pipe.”
Ms Attridge is asking people to conserve water and not to leave taps running
“We also recommend that people don’t run taps continually as this is not an effective way of preventing frozen pipes and can cause other problems such as frozen drains.
It also puts further pressure on water supplies that are already challenged by the freezing conditions. Being mindful of water use at home, on farms and in businesses can make a big difference.”
Dublin Airport has asked that members of the public who are travelling onsite over the weekend “allow plenty of time for their journey”.
In a statement the airport said that airlines and their ground handling crews will be working diligently to ensure their planes are de iced where required.
“Our snow and ice teams are on standby to treat surfaces as required and to respond to any issues that arise.
As always, passengers seeking updates regarding specific flights should contact their airline directly.”
Meanwhile, Cork Airport has also urged passengers to allow “ample time” for their journey onsite.
“With potentially hazardous travelling conditions expected, due caution should be exercised on the roads at all times.
Public transport services may also be affected over the coming days. For the latest information, passengers are advised to refer to the relevant bus operator’s website.
For the most accurate and up-to-date flight information, passengers are advised to contact their airline or refer to their airline website/mobile app.
For more information, latest forecasts and weather updates, visit met.ie”
Shannon Airport is also calling on passengers to check with their airline for up-to-date information on flights and to allow extra time to get to the airport.
“Intending passengers who are due to travel Saturday evening and Sunday are advised to check with their airline directly for the most up-to-date flight information.
“Given the forecast we also advise passengers to allow extra time for their journey to the airport and to drive with care.”
Greyhound Racing Ireland has announced that due to frozen tracks and arising out of welfare consideration for greyhounds Kilcohan Park in Waterford, Curraheen Park in Cork and Kingdom Greyhound Stadium in Tralee have all cancelled racing which was scheduled to take place this evening, reports Olivia Kelleher.
However, Limerick Greyhound Stadium has passed inspection and will race as normal.
The executive team will meet again tomorrow morning to review local inspections regarding scheduled fixtures. Any amendments will be issued via website updates as early as possible in order to prevent unnecessary travel.
The National Emergency Co-ordination Group met virutally this morning ahead of the forecasted cold snap and potential for disruptive weather, the group said in a statement.
The group consists of a number of stakeholders, including the Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management (NDFEM), Met Éireann, and representatives from the transport and education sector.
A spokesperson said that Local Authority Severe Weather Assessment Teams are monitoring weather conditions locally, “and and emergency response are ready to respond where and when necessary”.
The National Transport Authority (NTA) said that all public transport authorities are “on alert” ahead of potential disruption.
Keith Leonard, national director of NDFEM, 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.”
He said that footpaths will be hazardous and slippery, and that public transport may be impacted.
“With regard to rough sleepers during this wintry spell, the Department [of Housing] is communicating with Regional Leads in relation to their Cold Weather Initiatives and has advised them of the expected conditions,” Mr Leonard said.
“Cold Weather Initiatives operate across all local authorities to provide additional emergency beds for rough sleepers where needed – ensuring that additional temporary beds can be brought into use across a range of existing services and facilities, for singles and couples who need them during periods of cold weather.”
NDFEM will meet again on Sunday morning.
Met Éireann has issue a new yellow weather warning for low temperatures and ice for the entire country. It will come into effect at 5pm on Sunday, valid until 12pm on Monday.
The charity ALONE is appealing to older people across the country to look for support they may need during the cold snap, and for the public to be aware of individuals who may be more isolated because of the poor weather conditions, reports Olivia Kelleher.
ALONE chief executive Sean Moynihan warned that trips and falls in people over the age of 75 can have serious or even fatal consequences, with an average of 20 per cent of people dying within a year of a hip fracture.
He called on older people to keep the heating on in their home, to wear more than one layer of clothing to stay warm and to consume hot food and drinks during this cold spell.
Mr Moynihan also urged people to look out for the older and more vulnerable members of their community.
“Don’t assume someone else has checked in or offered help. Don’t leave it to others, make the call or knock on the door and let’s get everyone through this safely.
“Please stay in touch with older friends, family and neighbours. It’s vital that homes are kept warm and comfortable, particularly for those with underlying health difficulties, which can be exacerbated by the cold weather.
“If you’re an older person concerned about using your heating because of the cost of energy, or if you know someone in that situation, you can call ALONE on 0818 222 024.”
Today’s meeting at the Cork Racecourse in Mallow has been cancelled as the track is frozen, Olivia Kelleher reports.
Val O’Connell, IHRB clerk of the course, said that temperatures dropped to minus two overnight and remain below freezing at present.
“Without there being a sufficient rise in temperatures prior to our first race at 12.30pm, we had no option but to cancel the fixture.
The team at Cork Racecourse will liaise with Horse Racing Ireland about a date for rescheduling this meeting in due course.”
Meanwhile, there will be an inspection at Naas Racecourse at 7.30am tomorrow ahead of the scheduled fixtures.
In a statement Naas Racecourse said that the area remains subject to a Yellow Status warning.
“At this stage they are reducing the chance of snow for our area with higher chance of sleet/rain. There will be a 7.30am inspection as planned.”
The latest from Met Éireann. Snow will begin to accumulate in places tonight, especially in the south and the midlands.
Our man Chris Maddaloni was onsite during preparations at Dublin City Council’s salt depot in Ballymun on Saturday morning.
More reports of snowfall in west Cork, courtesy of local newspaper The Southern Star.
Iarnród Éireann is advising travellers to consider if their journey is necessary this weekend.
Large parts of the UK will also be hit by heavy snow and freezing rain which could lead to disruption this weekend amid two amber weather warnings.
Stranded vehicles on the roads, delayed or cancelled rail and air travel and power cuts are all likely as the country grapples with a weeklong spell of wintry conditions, the Met Office said.
There is also a “good chance” that rural communities could be cut off due to the weather, with up to 30cm of snowfall expected in some areas. – PA
Dublin Airport’s snow and ice teams are on standby this weekend. The DAA is advising passengers to consult individual airlines with regards to updates on specific flights, and to allow plenty of time for travelling to the airport.
Severe Weather Assessment Teams linked to Cork County Council and Waterford City and County Council have been convening on Saturday in advance of orange weather warnings coming into effect.
Both councils are advising motorists to be aware of hazardous driving conditions, and to avoid unnecessary journeys; that public transport services may be cancelled; to take care while walking on icy footpaths; and for the public to check in on elderly, vulnerable and isolated neighbours.
Gabriel Hynes, senior engineer at Waterford City and County Council, said: “We would advise all motorists to exercise caution when travelling, allow extra time for your journey and leave extra distance between you and the vehicle in front.
“Travelling conditions throughout the evening and night will be difficult, even on gritted roads, so please slow down and be aware of other road users.”
The meeting of Dr Crokes of Kerry and Tyrone’s Errigal Ciaran in the semi-finals of the All-Ireland club senior football championship has been postponed following a pitch inspection. Muireann Duffy has more here.
Early reports of snowfall in west Cork.
Joanna Donnelly, meteorologist with Met Éireann, has been explaining on RTÉ Radio 1 what is causing this cold snap – a lot of it is due to a polar air mass moving over Ireland.
“The polar air is right down over Ireland, and it’s probably going to stay there for the next few days. I think the cold weather warning is all the way out to Thursday, so it’s going to stay cold, every night it’s going to be cold, frosty.
“All the precipitation that falls in the next week or so is going to potentially fall as sleet and snow. So it’s not just today and tonight – there could be more snow tomorrow.”
Taoiseach Simon Harris has spoken to the Directorate of Emergency Management this morning, he said in a post on X.
In the thread, he said that the weather will remain very cold for most of next week – a particular challenge, given that snow and ice will take time to thaw.
“There are gritting plans in place by local authorities and road agencies. We have a large supply of salt. Energy supplies are also good. A cold weather plan for rough sleepers has been activated. The national group will continue to meet regularly.”
Motoring editor Michael McAleer has some advice for motorists driving in snowy conditions – a likely scenario for many in the days ahead. The first thing to remember: go slow, don’t panic in a slide, and don’t brake too hard. Read the full piece here.
On Friday, we spoke to people sleeping rough in Dublin’s city centre about the impending cold spell.
Nikita “Nikki” Kenny was sitting on the pavement outside a supermarket on North Earl Street with a bag of her belongings. She said she has been sleeping on Talbot Street for seven months, but has been homeless for 18 years.
She slept in the doorway of a cafe on Thursday night. “It was cold last night ... it’s to get actually colder,” she said. Read the full piece here.
Good morning. Snow, ice and heavy rain are set to sweep over Ireland this weekend with two distinct status orange weather alerts issued for a combined total of 10 counties from Saturday afternoon.
Met Éireann is forecasting sub-zero temperatures and “very disruptive and impactful” weather conditions with significant accumulations of snowfall in some parts of the country. There is also a risk of school closures in some areas on Monday.
The cold snap is expected to last well into next week. It will lead to very difficult travelling conditions, poor visibility, and delays to public transport with difficult conditions underfoot and animal welfare issues, Met Éireann said.
We’ll be keeping you abreast of the inclement weather conditions and updated Met Éireann warnings on our irishtimes.com live story this morning. Stay tuned.
