A Status Red weather warning has been issued for five counties following heavy snowfall and freezing conditions overnight.

Met Eireann has issued its highest level of alert for counties: Dublin; Kildare; Louth; Meath; and Wicklow.

The alert will remain in place until 12:00pm tomorrow (March 1).

The national forecaster has reported snow accumulations of between 5cm and 10cm in some eastern counties.

A Status Orange weather alert has been extended to counties Cork, Waterford and Wexford. The alert will also remain valid until noon tomorrow. This is in addition to an earlier orange warning issued for counties Laois and Carlow, which is valid until 11:00am this morning. Met Eireann has said further updates will be issued in due course.

The National Emergency Co-ordination Committee will meet again this morning to discuss the deteriorating situation.


Further heavy snowfall will continue across many parts of the east of the country today.

The national forecaster said the heavy snow showers may ease at times throughout the day; but, the downfalls will not cease completely.

Conditions will remain very cold with daytime temperatures expected to remain around freezing; strong and gusty easterly winds are also forecast.

Tonight

Met Eireann has said “there will be little change” this evening or tonight with the snow showers continuing and snow building on the ground.

A severe frost – with lowest temperatures of -3° to -6° – and gusty easterly winds are also expected tonight.

Gardai have described this situation on the roads as “fluid”. Although motorways are open, some problems have been reported on slip-roads and junctions entering and exiting motorways – trucks in particular are finding it difficult.

However, there is still more to come; the anticipated Storm Emma – “The Beast from the East” – is on the way and expected to hit the country tomorrow.

Contractors ‘at the ready’

The Association of Farm and Forestry Contractors in Ireland (FCI) has said it has 795 contractors “at the ready”; the national strategy team has been made aware of this offer of assistance.

An FCI spokesperson said the contractors should be used where necessary.

“A spin machine cannot distribute grit. We need constant updates and concern to be shown for the people of rural, as well as urban, Ireland,” he said.

Stay tuned to AgriLand for more updates throughout the day.