Motorists warned over icy conditions on roads

Motorists are advised to exercise extreme caution from this morning with icy roads predicted and snowfalls in the east likely from Wednesday.

Yesterday afternoon saw outbreaks of sleet over Leinster and Munster. With daytime temperatures of just 2 to 4 degrees in the east, snow flurries were reported around Maynooth, Lucan and Celbridge, with some accumulations over higher ground.

As rain and sleet spread down from the north last night, followed by clearer skies and a drop in temperatures to -2 degrees, Met Éireann has warned morning commuters to take care.

“Certainly there is a need for extreme caution on roads,” said forecaster Joanna Donnelly. “Light rain might have fallen on already frozen surfaces, which is extremely dangerous.”

Today and tomorrow will be cold, bright, showery and blustery with highest temperatures of 4 to 8 degrees. But things will turn colder again from Wednesday.

In northeasterly winds, daytime temperatures will hover between 2 to 4 degrees with severe frosts at night.

Snow likely

“From Wednesday onwards along the coastal counties of Leinster, the northeasterly winds will bring wintry showers off the Irish Sea with a likelihood of falls of snow of several centimetres from these showers,” according to forecasts.

“Temperatures are staying very low for the next few days so there will be further frosty conditions on the roads, and on untreated roads in particular for the coming nights,” said Ms Donnelly.

The cold snap is expected to end by the weekend, however, when a slight rise in temperatures is expected.

Cloud will start to increase over the country, bringing outbreaks of rain to most places.