Significant snowfall expected overnight as cold snap continues – The Irish Times

Parts of Cork and Kerry saw snowfall overnight and more snow is expected in many parts of the country in the coming days.

A yellow weather warning for snow and ice applies in both counties until noon. Parts of the north had their coldest night of the year with a temperature of minus 8.6 in Castlederg, Co Tyrone.

The overnight forecast is for likely heavy snow in some locations in the northern half of Ireland, comprising all counties of Ulster and Connacht, as well as Longford, Louth, Meath and Westmeath.

Overnight temperatures will stay below freezing everywhere. An Atlantic front will meet the cold air after midnight, and rain, sleet and snow will spread from Munster to the southern parts of Leinster and Connacht. Night time temperatures will feel much colder with a significant wind chill factor.

“It snowed a bit overnight but the worst snow will be tomorrow,” said Met Éireann forecaster Joanna Donnelly. “There will be a North-South divide. Snow is coming steadily from the south. There will be concentrations in North Connacht and Ulster.”

Ms Donnelly said the snow is likely to fall on the north side of a diagonal line running from Belfast to Galway. “The southern half of the country sees more rain and sleet.”

Met Éireann modeling shows accumulations between 20mm and 30mm between Wednesday night and Thursday morning in the areas covered by the yellow weather warning.

Met Éireann warns of “very dangerous driving conditions” in poor visibility on Thursday morning.

Sleet and snow will continue over Ulster, Connacht and North Leinster into tomorrow afternoon, but further south there will be mainly rain and sleet. Temperatures range from 0 to 5 degrees but due to the wind chill factor it will feel much colder.

Friday is the last day of the current cold spell. The night will be cold with heavy frost and freezing conditions, with possible sleet and snow over Munster and Leinster. Temperatures range from minus 4 to 0 degrees.

The latest forecast shows a return to seasonally normal temperatures of between 7 and 12 degrees towards the end of the week.