Weather: Ireland sees ‘coldest day’ in 12 years as freezing temperatures set to continue

Ireland experienced its lowest temperatures in 12 years on Monday, with freezing conditions expected to continue for most of the week.

Temperatures fell below minus 5 degrees in many areas and averaged minus 2 degrees on Monday evening. The coldest temperature on the island was minus 9 degrees and recorded Katesbridge in Co Down. In the Republic, the coldest temperature was recorded in Athenry, Co Galway which dropped to minus 7.2 degrees, still some way off the record lowest temperature recorded in Ireland, minus 19.1 degrees in 1881.

An orange weather warning of freezing fog across much of the country expired at midnight but a less serious yellow warning remains in place until 10am on Tuesday for Cavan, Donegal, Monaghan, Longford, Louth, Meath, Offaly, Westmeath and all of Connacht.

A separate yellow low temperature and ice warning will remain in place until Friday, with Met Éireann saying the weekend was expected to be milder.

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In an update on Monday evening, the weather forecaster warned of continuing bitterly cold conditions “with icy conditions and freezing fog in many parts, leading to very hazardous travelling conditions.”

The average from Met Éireann’s network of 25 monitoring stations showed Monday was “provisionally the coldest day since 2010.” The maximum temperature across the network was minus 3.1 degrees at Ballyhaise, Co Cavan.

The freezing weather is set to continue on Tuesday, with temperatures ranging between minus 3 and zero degrees through the day.

Four weather stations around the country had “ice days” which occur when temperatures stay about zero degrees for the whole day. “The last Ice day in Ireland was Dec 6th 2020 at Dunsany and before that it was at numerous stations on March 2nd, 2018 during Storm Emma,” it said.

The National Emergency Coordination Group (NECG) met on Monday morning and were advised by Met Éireann the freezing temperatures will bring a range of hazards including severe frost, ice, wintry showers and freezing fog.

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A number of schools were closed on Monday but the Government has declined to order a blanket closure. Principals were advised to make decisions based on local conditions.

The Dublin Airport Authority (DAA), said Dublin and Cork airports remain fully operational but that 22 flights were cancelled on Monday.

There were no flight cancellations at Shannon but almost all the flights are related to the southeast of England were suspended.