Snow continues to cause hazardous conditions in some counties – The Irish Times



Snow is to be heaviest in the north and west of the country, as cold temperatures again cause hazardous icy conditions on roads in several counties, Met Éireann has said.

The national forecaster said Wednesday morning would be cold with widespread frost and ice, with scattered snow showers, as well as hail and thunder, in some places.

By the evening, showers are likely to be isolated to Ulster, and highest temperatures to be between two and six degrees.

A status yellow snow and ice warning is in place until 9am on Wednesday for counties Donegal, Leitrim and Sligo, where Met Éireann said accumulations of snow should be expected in parts.

Sligo County Council warned motorists that due to a “combination of freezing roads and falls of snow, sleet and hail”, roads across the county were “very hazardous”” on Wednesday morning.

The local authority advised drivers to cut speeds, particularly on smaller roads.

Leitrim County Council issued a similar warning to motorists, stating “priority routes” would be gritted by council crews.

The rest of the country – apart from Dublin, Wicklow, Wexford and Waterford – is also covered by a status yellow warning until the same time for possible scattered sleet and snow showers, with icy stretches on roads likely.

A number of schools in Co Donegal closed on Tuesday due to snowfall on roads, as well as some schools in Co Cork.

Wednesday night will be “very cold with frost and icy stretches”, according to Met Éireann, creating more hazardous travel conditions.

Temperatures may drop to as low as minus four degrees in some parts of Ulster and the north midlands, it said.

Thursday will see more rain and sleet, but the day is expected to become drier as it goes on, with temperatures dropping to between minus one and minus four at night.

Senior Met Éireann forecaster Gerry Murphy said the current cold snap will ease towards the end of the week with milder temperatures expected for the weekend. Rain and milder temperatures will arrive on Friday and remain for the weekend, he said.

Mr Murphy told RTÉ Radio’s Morning Ireland that this weather pattern is normal for this time of year.

Temperatures on Friday are predicted to be between three to eight degrees during the day, and only falling to between six degrees and minus one degree at night.



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