LAST UPDATE | 7 Mar 2023

A STATUS YELLOW snow and ice warning has been issued for Cork and Kerry from tonight until tomorrow morning, with a low temperature warning to come into effect for several other counties.

Met Éireann is warning that Cavan, Donegal, Monaghan, Longford, Louth, Meath, Westmeath and all of Connacht are at risk of experiencing “hazardous conditions due to freezing temperatures” and icy stretches on roads and footpaths.

The low temperature and ice warning for those counties is valid from 9pm tonight until 9am tomorrow.

Meanwhile, a snow and ice warning for “patchy sleet or snow overnight and Wednesday morning” in Cork and Kerry, with potential for hazardous conditions on some roads and footpaths, is taking effect from midnight until 12pm tomorrow.

Later in the week, a snow and ice warning will be in place for Cavan, Donegal, Monaghan, Longford, Louth, Meath, Westmeath and Connacht from 6am on Thursday until midnight that night.

Additionally, the UK Met Office has issued a Status Yellow snow and ice warning tonight for Antrim, Down, Tyrone and Derry, with a second warning for all six counties in the North from 3am on Thursday to 6pm on Friday.

Temperatures dipped -3 degrees in some parts overnight. The latest weather reports from Met Éireann show that the mercury fell to -2 degrees in Co Cavan, Dublin, Mayo, Meath and Westmeath, with the coldest overnight temperature of -3.4 degrees recorded at the Mount Dillon weather station in Co Roscommon.

Hazardous conditions are to be expected due to freezing temperatures, including icy stretches on roads and paths.

Met Éireann has said that falls of rain, sleet and snow in the south and southwest this morning should clear away to leave a cold, mostly sunny and dry day.

However, scattered wintry showers will affect the north and northwest, with highest temperatures of just 3 to 6 degrees.

It’s then set to turn very cold overnight, with temperatures falling as low as -5 or -6 degrees in Ulster and the northwest.

Elsewhere, there will be lowest temperatures of -4 to 0 degrees, with sleet or snow flurries in Munster overnight.

Very cold overnight, another very cold night tonight with temps set to dip even lower. 🥶🌡️📉

Check the website for forecasts and warnings ➡️https://t.co/6N7XkAZaF5 pic.twitter.com/7lxmiU1wY1

— Met Éireann (@MetEireann) March 7, 2023

Met Éireann’s analysis has identified uncertainties surrounding the forecast for Thursday, though it said it is “almost certain” that precipitation in the afternoon will fall as rain in the south, sleet in north Munster and the midlands, with a “very high likelihood of snow in north Leinster and Ulster”.

Dr Alan Hally, Forecasting Services Manager at Met Éireann, said that the forecaster’s “high-resolution ensemble prediction system is specifically designed to represent the uncertainties related to these types of events”.

“In Ireland, the occurrence of snow is almost always a marginal event, and our forecasters rely heavily on ensemble prediction systems in order to determine the most likely outcome and to decide on appropriate and timely warnings.”

Driving conditions

Speaking to RTÉ’s Morning Ireland, the Road Safety Authority’s communications manager Brian Farrell advised that “slowly does it” in icy spells.

“Use the controls delicately, avoid over steering, harsh braking and acceleration because that’s what will get you into skid,” said Farrell.

“Use the highest gear possible is the advice to avoid wheel spin and getting into a skid and use a low gear when travelling downhill because that uses the engine as a brake.”

He also issued a reminder to pedestrians and warned them to not underestimate the dangers of footpaths.

“Slips and falls happen in places that people would regard as relatively safe and that could be right outside your front door and getting in and out of the car.”

He also reminded motorists to use a screen scraper or de-icer to clear windows before your journey and to never use hot water.

“If there’s any cracks in the glass, it’ll make it worse and crack the windscreen even more,” said Farrell.

The RSA communication manager also advised motorists to check their tires during the cold snap, “especially if they fall below 1.6 millimetre which is the legal thread depth”.