Snow and ice likely to bring morning disruption for some

Snow and ice are expected to disrupt morning rush hour traffic for the second day tomorrow as Met Eireann predicts icy stretches on roads across the country.

With temperatures tonight falling to between zero and minus three degrees, road surfaces wet from today’s rain and sleet are set to turn icy. Those in Ulster and North Leinster are likely to be most affected by sleet and snow.

Dublin Bus said it would keep a watching brief on routes from dawn tomorrow after sleet and snow last night made morning pick-ups from Glencullen, Ticknock, Shopriver and the Belarmine estate in Stepaside impossible this morning.

“From early morning, we’ll make a decision as to whether roads are safe,” a spokeswoman said last night. “Commuters should go to dublinbus.ie where there will be updates from first bus if there are any diversions.”

Those travelling from higher ground around Ballinteer, Sandyford and Tallaght in Dublin are also advised to take care where any sleet, snow and ice may be slow to clear. Though big accumulations are unlikely, there is an increased risk of snow on higher ground with caution advised around the Sally Gap and the Wicklow Gap.

National Roads Authority spokesman Sean O'Neill says local authorities had been salting affected national roads and also highly trafficked local and regional roads. "They've been flat out. Basically they respond as the conditions require. And right now conditions require it."

He warned motorists that authorities could not salt every road in the country however. Commuters can monitor NRA cameras recording real time road conditions and temperatures at nratraffic.ie.

Met Eireann says temperatures will hover around freezing at the start of the morning rush hour tomorrow, rising to just five to seven degrees during the day. It will be drier and brighter in the West and South.

“Temperatures remain quite depressed for the time of year,” forecaster Joanna Donnelly said. “They are a good bit lower than normal for the time of year.”

With maximum average March temperatures around nine to 12 degrees, she said so far this month they had been between just four and eight degrees.

It will be another cold night tomorrow night with scattered showers after nightfall, some wintry. Lowest temperatures will be of two to minus two degrees with some frost and patches of ice in places.

Thursday will be cold and blustery with top temperatures of five to nine degrees in the south west with lows of one to six degrees over Ulster.