Met Éireann issues alert as wintry snap continues

Forecasters say cold air from Canada will bring more rain, sleet, snow and ice

A runner battles through a heavy snow shower in Tuam, Co Galway. Photograph: Ray Ryan
A runner battles through a heavy snow shower in Tuam, Co Galway. Photograph: Ray Ryan

Yesterday may have heralded the beginning of spring, according to some, but the weather will remain wintry due to a cold air mass from Canada bringing snow showers across the country.

Met Éireann has issued a yellow alert snow and ice warning to stay in place until at least tonight at 9pm. Frost and ice will clear this morning, to give a cold and bright day with temperatures of 3 to 6 degrees forecast.

There will be more showers of rain, sleet and snow tomorrow. Starting in the west during the morning, they will spread eastwards during the afternoon. Several centimetres of snow are expected to build up over hills, while “a few centimetres” could also settle on lowlands, mainly in the west and north.

“It’s March of many weathers. It’s meant to be the start of spring,” said Met Éireann forecaster Pat Clarke. “But the weather doesn’t always start on cue. The weather will continue with a wintry feel.”

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Tonight will be cold with further sleet and snow showers, mostly in west Munster, Connacht and west Ulster.

Temperatures will drop to between 0 and -2 degrees tonight with frost and icy patches across the country.

Tomorrow will be cold and windy, again with widespread wintry showers.

Matches postponed

Yesterday’s unseasonal blizzard brought snow across the country, particularly along the west coast in Galway and Mayo.

Several GAA matches were called off yesterday because the pitches were unplayable.

The GAA will today confirm new dates for the games between Meath and Roscommon and Galway and Laois which were postponed due to snow.

Dublin Airport suspended operations for about 20 minutes yesterday to sweep slush from the main runway.

AA Roadwatch urged motorists to drive with “extreme care” as road conditions are likely to remain icy.

The cold snap is expected to end by the weekend.

Lorna Siggins

Lorna Siggins

Lorna Siggins is the former western and marine correspondent of The Irish Times