Updated 9.10am
MET ÉIREANN’S STATUS orange warning for snow and ice kicks in from 11pm today as the country prepares for a December cold snap.
The warning covers Connacht, Cavan, Monaghan, Donegal, Dublin, Kildare, Laois, Longford, Louth, Wicklow, Offaly, Westmeath and Meath, with Met Éireann predicting “significant falls of snow” in these areas.
From 4cm to 8 cm of snow could fall before Sunday night and the warning is set to end at 11pm tomorrow.
Meanwhile, a status yellow wind warning will be in place for Clare, Cork, Kerry, Limerick and Waterford from 1am to noon tomorrow.
Met Éireann has said southeast winds veering northwest are “expected to reach mean wind speeds of 55 to 65 km/h with gusts of 90 to 110km/h for a time early on Sunday, particularly in coastal regions and about high ground”.
Drivers
The Road Safety Authority (RSA) has encouraged motorists and all road users to be extra cautious over the weekend and ”treat every road as if it’s frozen”.
The warning is specifically urging motorists to be wary of the potential for black ice on the roads, and the RSA has released a series of videos giving advice on how to handle the hazardous conditions.
Video won’t play? Click here.
People walking on footpaths are also being urged to be extra careful as places usually regarded as safe and secure could become treacherous in the icy weather.
With reporting by Órla Ryan
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