Met Eireann have issued a Status Orange weather warning for freezing fog from 12pm today until midnight on Tuesday.
The fog is dense in places and will persist through the afternoon and into tonight, leading to very hazardous driving conditions. The national weather forecaster has also issued a Status Yellow low temperature and ice warning for Ireland, valid until midday on 16 December.
Meanwhile, Carlow Weather’s Alan O’Reily says the cold spell we’ve been experiencing lately will come to a “wet and windy end next Sunday morning”, with milder air moving in. But with last night being branded “the coldest night of the year” by the weather expert, what can we expect for the week ahead? Temperatures are set to drop to -6C midweek - here is everything you need to know.
Read more: Dublin school closures update as cold snap brings dangerous conditions to capital
Today
According to Met Eireann, the bitter cold will continue this morning, with sharp to severe frost, icy conditions and freezing fog, all leading to "very hazardous travelling conditions". These conditions may linger through much of the day, with temperatures reaching just 1 to 4 degrees in light southeasterly or variable breezes. Occasional wintry showers are also possible in the evening, and temperatures as low as -2 degrees Further patches of freezing fog will develop.
Tomorrow
Ice will persist through much of the day. Daytime temperatures will reach 1 to 5 degrees in light to moderate northeasterly winds. It will be generally dry with some sunny spells. There will only be a slight chance of an occasional wintry shower. In the evening, widespread frost and ice are expected and temperatures could drop to as low as -5 degrees.
Wednesday
Crisp winter sunshine and “a good deal of it” are expected, and temperatures will reach 5 degrees. The weather will remain generally dry and there will be mainly light northerly breezes. There will be just a chance of isolated wintry showers near coasts. However, it will be another very cold, frosty night with lows of -6 to 0 degrees, making it the coldest day of the cold snap.
Thursday
Thursday is expected to be largely dry and bright with afternoon temperatures of 2 to 5 degrees. Occasional wintry showers will continue in the north and northwest and there will be light northwesterly breezes.
Friday
Showers of rain and sleet are expected on Friday in certain areas of the country, although much of the midlands, south and east will remain dry. It is expected to be partly cloudy with occasional bright spells and the highest temperatures will be 3 to 6 degrees in light southwesterly breezes.
Weekend
"Considerable uncertainty remains for the weekend and into next week,” Met Eireann are reporting. However, according to early indications, conditions will turn “somewhat warmer but very unsettled on Sunday with some prolonged spells of rain”.
Read next:
- Motorists warned to avoid this 'really bad' hack to defrost car windscreens
- Elderly people and dog owners given walking warnings amid cold snap
- Irish drivers could face €2000 fine for making one big mistake when defrosting car windscreen
- How to stop your pipes from freezing as snow and ice forecast for Dublin
