Ireland Braces for Severe Snow, Ice, and Rain This Weekend
Ireland is set to be battered by a potent storm this weekend, with heavy snow, ice, and rain forecast across large parts of the country. Met Éireann, Ireland’s national meteorological service, has issued two status orange weather warnings covering ten counties, signaling the potential for “very disruptive and impactful” weather conditions.
Orange Warnings Issued for Snow, Ice, and Rain
A 24-hour orange snow and ice warning comes into effect from 5pm on Saturday for Carlow, Kilkenny, Laois, Offaly, Wicklow, Clare, Limerick, and Tipperary. These counties are bracing for “significant snowfall accumulations,” according to Met Éireann.
A separate orange rain and snow warning for Cork and Kerry for the same 24-hour period has also been issued, with “heavy rain transitioning to sleet and snow.”
Dangerous Travel Conditions and School Closures Possible
The cold snap is expected to create very difficult travel conditions, with poor visibility, significant delays on public transport, and hazardous conditions for pedestrians.
Met Éireann warned of potential school closures in some areas on Monday, citing the disruptive nature of the severe weather. Keith Leonard, national director of the NDFEM, confirmed that the decision to close schools would be at the discretion of individual school managements based on local conditions.
Winter Weather Preparations Underway
Authorities are prepared for the onslaught of winter weather. Local authorities and Transport Infrastructure Ireland have mobilized 160,000 tonnes of salt, with plans to treat national primary and secondary routes twice a day throughout the weekend and into next week.
The Dublin Region Homeless Executive (DRHE) has also activated its cold weather response plan, providing additional shelter for vulnerable individuals who are homeless.
Arctic Air to Linger into Next Week
Met Éireann predicts a brief respite from the cold on Sunday, but Arctic air will return on Sunday evening, bringing bitterly cold temperatures, lying snow, widespread severe frost, ice, and scattered wintry showers.
Deputy Head of Forecasting at Met Éireann, Liz Coleman, urged the public to “take heed of the warnings and plan in advance.”
Stay Updated and Safe
With the potential for severe weather conditions, it is crucial to stay informed and take necessary precautions. Residents are advised to monitor weather updates from Met Éireann, keep an eye out for vulnerable neighbours, and ensure their vehicles are winter-ready.
For the latest weather forecasts and alerts, visit the Met Éireann website: https://www.met.ie/
The post Met Éireann forecasts ‘significant snowfall’ as orange warnings extended to 10 counties appeared first on Archynewsy.