Heavy snow overnight in parts of the southeast and east has led to extremely difficult driving conditions this morning with more snow and ice on the way.
Waterford City, Naas, much of County Wicklow, and parts of Meath, Carlow, Wexford, Laois and Kilkenny are worst affected with up to a foot of snow reported on higher ground in Wicklow. Parts of the capital were also hit last night including Balbriggan, Leixlip, Ballyfermott, Chapelizod, Cherry Orchard and Blackrock.
Temperatures also dipped well below freezing in many parts leaving most icy stretches on most roads around the country. The temperature at Castlederg in Co Tyrone at 6.30am was minus 11.4C. Elsewhere, mercury levels at Gurteen in north Tipperary dropped to minus 9C
The cold spell is likely to continue until at least next Tuesday, although it is expected to become less cold in most parts for a time on Friday and Saturday.
In Waterford City numerous primary and post primary schools have been forced to close today as a result of sustained. Heavy snowfall yesterday evening and overnight. The full list of school closures is available from schooldays.ie
There has been widespread travel disruption throughout the country.
Flight operations were suspended at Dublin Airport this morning following heavy snowfalls overnight. They are expected to resume at 7.30am. Aer Lingus have confirmed there will be delays and some flight cancellations. Flights EI 104 arriving from New York and EI 136 arriving from Boston are being diverted into Shannon airport. Aer Lingus flights to London also are affected as Gatwick Airport will be closed until approximately midday.
Dublin Bus has been forced to cancel a number of services and curtail other services. Service updates from Dublin Bus.
Gardai say that road conditions across Ireland are hazardous this morning. See AA Roadwatch for more.
Commenting on today’s weather iWeather Online forecaster Peter O’Donnell said: “It will continue very cold with local snowfalls of 5-15 cms mainly in the southeast from streamers coming inland off the Irish Sea. Light amounts of snow also possible more widely in north, central and southwest. The best of the sunshine today will be in Connacht and the northern parts of Munster but the sun may break through at times in the east. Highs reaching about -1 C inland and about +2 C east coast and south coast. Winds generally ENE 15-25 mph near coasts and becoming E 10-15 mph inland when the morning chill lessens.”
“Tonight will possibly be the coldest night of this arctic spell, due to widespread clear skies and light winds. Any drifting cloud would hold temperatures at around -4 C but clear skies would probably allow for lows of -8 to -12 C especially over recent snow cover. Freezing fog patches may become widespread too. Any flurries still active near the east coast will become confined to coastal Wicklow and south Dublin before dying out”, added Mr. O’Donnell.