Weather to stay bitterly cold with heavy snow forecast across country

HEAVY WIDESPREAD snow is expected to fall across the country today as Ireland is hit by a severe cold weather system due to last until the end of next week.

Gerald Fleming of Met Éireann said the snow showers that affected coastal counties in the north and west yesterday will be followed by low pressure bringing “a much more organised band of snow down across country”.

Mr Fleming said it is difficult to predict which areas will be the worst affected but most will see snow in the early hours of this morning.

“Some places, probably more in the northern half of the country, will see a considerable amount – 5 to 10cm – with more on higher ground.

“As that system drifts away across the Irish Sea it could continue to bring snow to the east coast for a good deal of the day,” he told a briefing of the National Emergency Co-ordination Centre yesterday.

The outlook is for the weather to remain bitterly cold for the next five to six days, with temperatures in some places not rising above freezing, before a gradual increase by the end of next week.

Scattered snow showers are expected to continue into tomorrow and Monday before the weather becomes drier.

Mr Fleming also said this month is on course to be the coldest December since Met Éireann records began.

Highest temperatures are predicted to be zero to 3 degrees at best but it will feel substantially colder than the official forecast in the fresh northwesterly wind.

National Emergency Co-ordination Centre chairman Seán Hogan appealed for people to link in with the vulnerable and older people in their community. He also asked people in urban areas to clear snow from outside homes and commercial premises as soon as it falls.

“There will be a short opportunity before the snow becomes compacted and frozen to clear it and to make the pathways safe and we’re asking people to seize that opportunity,” he said.

Local authorities are continuing to restrict water supplies at night, and householders have been urged not to leave taps running. City engineer Michael Philips of Dublin City Council told the briefing that, although the situation has stabilised and demand is now balanced with supply, actual water savings have been less than hoped for.

Mr Philips said the council will carry out a review on Monday to see how long the restrictions will remain in force but he would “hope” that between the December 23rd and 28th there will be no cut-offs.

With only 14,000 tonnes of salt left in the State, National Roads Authority spokesman Seán O’Neill said the supply is being “critically managed”.

Mr O’Neill admitted some local authorities have expressed concern with the lack of supply for local and regional roads but he said the objective is to keep the national routes open.

He said a shipment of 25,000 tonnes is due to arrive in “the middle to end” of next week and there has to be a “disciplined management” of the current supply to last until then.

Addressing the briefing, Garda Insp John Ferris reminded motorists to reduce speed in the icy conditions and warned against being “too confident” where roads are treated. He advised people planning long journeys over the Christmas period to use primary routes and to travel during daylight hours when possible. He also urged pedestrians to wear high-visibility jackets and not to walk with their hands in their pockets.

Both Belfast city and international airports were closed for much of yesterday.

FORECAST NO LET UP IN FREEZING TEMPERATURES:

Met Éireann has warned the bitter cold will persist for rest of weekend and at least until the middle of next week.

TODAYSnow will be widespread from early this morning.

Tonight will be very cold with widespread ice, compacted snow and pockets of freezing fog.

Some fresh snow showers are possible especially in Munster Connacht and parts of Leinster.

TOMORROWIt will stay very cold with frost, ice and fog lingering in many areas during the day. There will be some bright spells but with the risk of sleet and snow showers. Sunday night will be very icy with freezing fog and a risk of further snow showers.

MONDAY, TUESDAY and WEDNESDAYMet Éireann expects little change for early next week with the cold snap persisting. While the risk of snow showers continues, drier weather is expected.

The problems of ice and lying snow, compacted in places will persist. Winds mostly light to moderate with freezing fog in places.

Tuesday and Wednesday nights are expected to get very cold with minus 10 or lower possible in places especially over snow fields. Frost, ice and fog will persist by day in many parts.

FURTHER OUTLOOKEarly indications suggest it will remain bitterly cold and frosty up to, and including, Christmas Day with icy conditions and the risk of freezing fog.

Snow showers are still possible but at the moment it looks as if it will be mostly dry.