LAST UPDATE | 31 mins ago

FIVE COUNTIES WILL be under two respective Status Orange weather warnings from midnight until midday tomorrow as very cold days are expected for the rest of the week.

Clare, Limerick and Tipperary will be under an Orange snow-ice warning, while Cork and Waterford will be under an Orange snow and rain warning.

People in all five counties should expect very difficult travelling conditions, poor visibility, disruptions to public transport, poor road and footpath conditions, and animal welfare issues, according to Met Éireann.

The weather service is warning of “significant snowfall” in the southern part of the country overnight and into tomorrow, particularly in Clare, Limerick and Tipperary.

A national Status Yellow low temperature warning will kick in at 8pm.

The following warnings have been issued by Met Éireann: 

• Status Yellow low temperature/ice warning for Ireland: valid from 8pm today until 10am tomorrow 
• Status Yellow snow-ice warning for Carlow, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois, Offaly, Wexford, Wicklow, Munster, Galway: valid from 9pm today until midday tomorrow 
• Status Orange snow-ice warning for Clare, Limerick, Tipperary (significant snowfall accumulations expected): valid from midnight until noon tomorrow 
• Status Orange snow and rain warning for Cork and Waterford (heavy rain transitioning to sleet and snow; flooding possible): valid from midnight until midday tomorrow

‼️Updates⬇️

⚠️Orange Snow/Rain Warning for Cork & Waterford
➡️Heavy rain transitioning to sleet & snow

⚠️Orange Snow/Ice Warning for Clare Limerick & Tipperary
➡️Significant snowfall accumulations expected

⏰00:01 to 12:00 Thu 21/11/24

More ℹ️https://t.co/t2JoveRUyC pic.twitter.com/LhylvApSru

— Met Éireann (@MetEireann) November 20, 2024

The National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management (NDFEM), Met Éireann and various other stakeholders met earlier today to discuss the weather warnings.

Local Authority Severe Weather Assessment Teams (SWATs) will continue to monitor conditions locally and councils have emergency response teams in place, ready to respond where and when necessary, a statement from the NDFEM said.

Hazardous driving conditions 

The Local Government Management Agency has coordinated with Transport Infrastructure Ireland to arrange for salt stocks to be distributed to all local authorities, the statement added.

The National Transport Authority has contacted all public transport authorities in Dublin to confirm they are activating their winter plans in anticipation of potential disruption tomorrow morning.

Our Severe Weather Assessment Team convened this morning ahead of a @MetEireann Status Orange Snow and Rain warning for Cork. The warning comes into effect at midnight tonight and will remain in place until midday tomorrow.

Heavy rain transitioning to sleet and snow is… pic.twitter.com/PSJkeFSC7D

— Cork County Council (@Corkcoco) November 20, 2024

Speaking after the meeting, Keith Leonard, National Director of the NDFEM, said: “Parts of the country may see very difficult travelling conditions over the coming hours.

Driving conditions will be hazardous. Even where roads are gritted we are asking drivers to slow down, drive with caution, be aware of other road users and allow extra time for your journey.

“We also know that footpaths can become extremely hazardous and slippery due to ice, so people should take extra care while walking too.”

Leonard said 180,000 tonnes of salt stock are available for this winter season and arrangements have been made for salt stocks to be distributed to all local authorities.

No one should face this festive season sleeping rough in the freezing cold. Our Outreach Team, operating 365 days a year, are working incredibly hard to support and prioritise those most vulnerable during this cold spell. pic.twitter.com/i00vhLtsHM

— Dublin Simon (@Dublin_Simon) November 18, 2024

Amid concerns for rough sleepers, Leonard said the Department of Housing, Heritage and Local Government’s Homeless Unit is in “ongoing communication” with regional partners about the issue.

He noted that the department has provided additional funding to local authorities “to ensure they have the necessary resources in place to activate their cold weather responses”.

People have also been asked to check in on their elderly, vulnerable and isolated neighbours in the coming days.

As well as its usual homeless outreach programme, Waterford City and County Council said extra capacity has been made available at McGwire House, Bath Street, Waterford, where homeless men and women can avail of shelter (call 051 879930 for more information).

Women and children fleeing domestic violence should present to Oasis House, 71 Morrisson’s Road, Waterford (call 051 370367 for more details).

Contains reporting by Muiris O’Cearbhaill