Met Eireann issues warning to motorists

The wintry weather is set to continue throughout today and tomorrow causing treacherous conditions on roads in the eastern counties…

The wintry weather is set to continue throughout today and tomorrow causing treacherous conditions on roads in the eastern counties.

Met Éireann warned motorists that ice and frost on the roads particularly this morning and in tomorrow morning's rush hour would cause hazardous driving conditions.

Mr Vincent O'Shea of Met Éireann, said: "Wet roads caused by further showers of snow, sleet and hail will cause high-risk conditions with widespread ice and frost in the eastern seaboard area."

The eastern counties of Dublin, Wicklow, Wexford, Waterford and Louth would have further showers today and there would be snow on the hills. The snowfalls would continue today and begin to ease off tomorrow.

READ MORE

By contrast, other parts of the country would be dry but there would be cold temperatures everywhere of just 2 to 6 degrees continuing into the weekend and early next week, he said.

Friday, Saturday and Sunday will be very cold but will be crisp, bright days. "Frosts will be very severe at night. On most roads everywhere there will be a risk of hard frosts and ice as temperatures will be several degrees below zero at night," Mr O'Shea warned. Met Éireann also warned that freezing fog could be a problem in some areas.

AA Roadwatch is also warning motorists that road conditions are likely to be very dangerous over the coming days with the cold snap set to continue for the week. "With snow and very low temperatures forecast, it is possible that road conditions will be dangerous. Motorists should take particular care when driving overnight and in the early hours of the morning," the warning states on its website.

Drivers are being advised to allow extra time for all journeys, watch out for black ice, particularly in sheltered areas, reduce speed and stay a safe distance from the car in front

AA Roadwatch warned that ice on side roads in the eastern counties and in Kildare and Meath had not thawed all day yesterday.

Yesterday, the heavy snowfalls in the east caused traffic delays. In Co Wicklow, the Sally Gap and Wicklow Gap remained impassable due to the heavy snow.