LAST UPDATE | 8 Jan

A STATUS YELLOW ice and weather warning is in effect nationwide until 10am tomorrow morning as temperatures are expected to reach below freezing overnight.

The highest temperatures are expected to reach 3 to 6 degrees today, with light to moderate easterly breezes, dropping to lows of -5 degrees tonight.

Met Éireann has said a “light dusting” of localised snow can be expected early tomorrow morning as well as cold and icy conditions.

The Father Peter McVerry Trust has asked to public to report anyone who they see sleeping rough, ahead of the low temperatures, to the charity through their portal. 

Met Éireann has issued a Status Yellow low-temperature warning for Ireland from 9pm tonight until 10am tomorrow (Tues 09/01).

We are asking the public to report anyone they see sleeping rough. Thank you. https://t.co/whz35L0QMO pic.twitter.com/0Nr6PY4HXV

— Peter McVerry Trust (@PMVTrust) January 8, 2024

Earlier, fog warnings for all counties were paired with warnings from Met Éireann that the weather was likely to cause hazardous driving conditions on roads this morning.

The highest temperatures are expected to reach 3 to 6 degrees today, with light to moderate easterly breezes, dropping to lows of -4 degrees tonight.

Tonight is described as “very cold” by Met Éireann with patches of mist or fog expected to continue later into the evening and some isolated showers.

Some sharp frost and ice patches are expected to develop later tonight as well.

Cars pass the Finn McCool and his hounds sculpture shrouded in freezing fog on M7. Eamonn Farrell Eamonn Farrell

The Road Safety Authority (RSA) has said that drivers must slow down and maintain a safe distance between themselves and other motorists when they are driving in fog.

In a video, posted to X, formerly Twitter, yesterday, the RSA said drivers must make sure their fog lights are on when driving in dense fog. The authority has reminded drivers that they must turn off their fog lights once the fog has cleared.

RSA spokesperson Teresa Mannion also reminded drivers to use their defrost settings on their windshields or direct their heaters towards their windows to avoid freezing fog from blocking their views.

She added that, at junctions, drivers can turn down their radio and roll down their windows in order to listen for on-coming traffic at junctions when driving in fog.

⚠️ Yellow Warning – Fog ⚠️
📍 Ireland
📆 Sun 7, 6pm – Mon 8, 10am
Areas of fog will become dense and widespread this evening and linger until Monday morning. The fog will clear eastern and southern counties early Monday morning. Impacts:
• Hazardous travel conditions#VisionZero pic.twitter.com/whHWKIguVv

— RSA Ireland (@RSAIreland) January 7, 2024

Uisce Éireann has also issued advice to homeowners on how to prevent freezing pipes, leaks, and damaged heating systems. 

It has also launched a social media campaign and a dedicated webpage at www.water.ie/winterproofing. 

Tips include insulating water tanks and pipes, because exposed pipes and tanks are particularly vulnerable to freezing. 

Homeowners have also been advised to ensure that boilers are serviced and well-maintained and that dripping taps, especially external ones, should be fixed. 

External dripping taps in winter can freeze on the ground and cause people to slip and injure themselves.

Uisce Éireann also advises that people check their inside stop valve, which is the isolation valve for water supply and that steps should be taken to minimise draughts as cold ait from the outside can cause pipes to freeze inside.