Motorists are being warned to exercise extreme caution today with hazardous weather conditions reported throughout the country as people journey home for Christmas.
Ice, snow and freezing conditions are causing traffic problems today following a sharp night-time frost.
Met Éireann said today an additional hazard was freezing fog affecting the midlands, west and south of the country. In places where fog persists after daylight temperatures are unlikely to rise above freezing, making driving conditions hazardous.
Most areas will remain freezing throughout the day with temperatures plummeting to between minus four and minus eight degrees overnight.
AA Roadwatch said driving conditions were dangerous due to severe ice and freezing fog, especially in Munster and Leinster, although an improvement has been reported this afternoon. Drivers are being advised to exercise “extreme care” while driving and people travelling home for Christmas should try to do so during daylight hours when conditions are less hazardous.
“Freezing fog is particularly dangerous because it can cause your windscreen to freeze over as you’re driving along,” spokeswoman Arwen Foley said, adding that higher ground and sheltered areas were particularly treacherous. Icy conditions have also been reported on the M4 near Maynooth.
Secondary and minor roads are worst affected by the adverse weather, especially in the midlands.
Gardaí have warned motorists to travel with extreme caution, with temperatures in some parts of the country among the lowest recorded.
Road temperatures of minus seven degrees have been reported on the N2 in Monaghan and on the N4 in Longford., while air temperatures are as low as minus ten in Sligo.
Snow is expected to fall in Ulster and parts of Connacht and north Leinster on Christmas Day, with the rest of the country getting rain.
A spokeswoman for Dublin airport said flights were running to schedule today.
Passengers to and from Dublin airport experienced some delays yesterday following disruptions to flight schedules to and from British airports.
Passengers are being advised to leave plenty of time and to check with flight operators regarding possible delays.
However Bus Éireann services in Cork have been severely disrupted by bad road conditions, with no services running in Cork city or west Cork.
While nearly all main roads have been gritted, drivers are being urged to drive cautiously and to allow for 10 times the usual braking distance.
Motorists are also warned to anticipate crashes as road conditions remain treacherous.
Some 730,000 passengers are expected to travel through Dublin airport between this week and next.