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A severe weather warning has been issued by Met Éireann as overnight snowfall made driving conditions treacherous and caused the cancellation of many flights between Ireland and Britain.

Met Éireann issued a further warning for tonight and tomorrow. It said snowfall  is expected to be up to eight
centimetres deep in some parts of the country.

Aer Lingus was forced to cancel all its flights to and from London Heathrow today, with further disruption expected tomorrow. Routes to Gatwick were also experiencing lengthy delays.

Ryanair flights from Shannon to Stansted and flights from Belfast City Airport were also cancelled.

Dart services were suspended between Bray and Greystones, Co Wicklow, after a rock fall close to the entrance of the first tunnel on Bray Head. Buses were arranged to transfer passengers expecting to travel on Irish Rail evening services between Rosslare, Arklow and Gorey and Dublin.The disruption is expected to last for several days.

Gardaí warned motorists to use extreme caution in some parts of the country, particularly around Naas, Co Kildare, where ice and snow made driving conditions extremely hazardous. The M7/M9 junction was said to be under a sheet of ice, while there was a warning of black ice on the N7 near Roscrea, Co Tipperary.

A general warning was also given to motorists in the wider Carlow and Kildare areas, while the Sally Gap and the Wicklow Gap, both in Wicklow, were impassable.

“Driving conditions are extremely hazardous and conditions are expected to deteriorate,” said a Garda spokesman. “Motorists are asked to slow down and only make their journeys if absolutely necessary.”