Cold snap unlikely to threaten record of minus 19 degrees

Red sky at night: Met Éireann says striking sunsets caused by refraction

WOOLLY HATS and gloves have become everyday attire these days as temperatures have plummeted, but Met Éireann says the current cold snap is far from the worst the country has endured.

December was one of the coldest recorded in decades and January appears to be following suit.

Met Éireann says the prolonged cold spell, which has seen corners of the country experiencing heavy frosts and temperatures as low as minus 8 degrees, is nowhere near the coldest period on record.

However, a spokesman said the record for the lowest temperature registered in Ireland, minus 19 degrees, which has stood since the 19th century, is unlikely to be threatened.

There has also been a series of blue skies and striking sunsets which many have attributed to the run of frosty mornings and even frostier nights.

However, Met Éireann says it is a matter of how sunlight reaches the earth. It says the sunsets are caused by refraction, the way in which sunlight hits the atmosphere at different angles, and that they occur at any time of the year.

The Irish Wildlife Trust meanwhile has urged people to help birds and wildlife through the current wintery spell. In cold weather it becomes harder for wildlife to find water and food.

People can help by putting out fresh water daily and supplementing scarcer food supplies with nuts, seeds and suet in bird feeders.