A Status Yellow low temperature and ice warning has been issued by Met Éireann for the whole country, with temperatures set to fall below -3° in many areas.
The Status Yellow weather warning will come into effect at 6:00p.m today (Thursday, January 2) and will stay in place until 11:00a.m tomorrow (Friday, January 3).
The national forecaster has warned of “very cold” temperatures with widespread frost and ice. Potential impacts include hazardous travelling conditions and animal welfare issues.
Meanwhile, there is also a Status Yellow ice warning in place for Northern Ireland, for counties: Antrim, Armagh, Down, Fermanagh, Tyrone and Derry. The warning came into place yesterday afternoon and is expected to end this morning.
Met Éireann has also issued an advisory that there may be sleet and snow in places throughout the weekend, with some disruption possible. The advisory remains in place until midnight on Monday, January 1.
A spell of rain will spread northwards over Ireland during the course of Saturday, turning to sleet and snow in some areas.
Rain, sleet and snow will continue for a time on Sunday before clearing eastwards into the Irish Sea. Significant accumulations of snow are likely in some counties.
Ice and snow
Highest temperatures will reach 1° to 6° or 7°, with the higher temperatures along the south and southwest coast, where the precipitation will fall mainly as rain. Winds will be mostly light easterly to begin, but will freshen through the day.
An area of low pressure is likely to track eastwards close to or over southern parts of the country on Saturday night, bringing widespread heavy falls of rain, sleet and snow.
The precipitation will mainly fall as sleet and snow away from the south and southwest, with some significant accumulations expected. Lowest temperatures are expected to be around -2° to 1°.
Remaining rain, sleet and snow will clear eastwards on Sunday night, with clear spells following. However, an arctic airmass will bring bitterly cold conditions next week.
There will be treacherous conditions with some significant accumulations of lying snow along with widespread severe frost and ice.