Thousands without power as Ireland wakes up to blanket of snow amid grim weather update

Thousands of people are without power this morning after heavy snowfall overnight in many areas, particularly in the southern half of the country.

Counties like Kerry, Limerick, Tipperary and Kilkenny are worst-affected by the snowfall which surpassed 10cm in some counties and up to 30cm in areas of higher ground.

The weather is the subject of a series of weather warnings from Met Éireann for snow, rain and ice amid freezing conditions that look set to persist. The warnings from Met Éireann run to 5pm on Sunday but a cold weather advisory remains in place until Thursday.

Their first weather warning is a Status Orange rain and snow warning for Cork, Kerry and Waterford. It says: "Heavy rain transitioning to sleet and snow with significant accumulations expected."

It list impacts as "very difficult travelling conditions, poor visibility, travel disruption delays to public transport likely (air, rail, bus), difficult conditions underfoot and animal welfare issues."

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The warning is valid from 5pm on Saturday to 5pm on Sunday.

A similar Status Orange snow-ice warning was issued for Carlow, Kilkenny, Laois, Offaly, Wicklow, Clare, Limerick and Tipperary with Met Éireann warning of "significant snowfall accumulations expected." This warning too is valid from 5pm on Saturday to 5pm on Sunday.

Met Éireann has also issued a Status Yellow rain warning for Cork, Kerry and Waterford. It warns of "heavy rain transitioning to sleet and snow" and it's valid from 1pm on Saturday to 5pm on Sunday.

There is also a Status Yellow snow-ice warning for Cavan, Donegal, Monaghan, Dublin, Kildare, Longford, Louth, Meath, Westmeath and all of Connacht.

"Falls of sleet and snow with snowfall accumulations" are expected in these counties. This 24-hour warning also runs from 5pm on Saturday to 5pm on Sunday.

The final warning from Met Éireann is a Status Yellow rain and snow warning for Wexford. Heavy rain there will transition to sleet and snow. It too is valid from 5pm on Saturday to 5pm on Sunday.

Meanwhile, Met Éireann has indicated that the snow could sit in the worst-affected counties for days amid freezing temperatures. Night-time temperatures this week could fall as low as -10 degrees with the early hours of Wednesday morning looking like the coldest period.

Their commentary on the cold spell says: "An area of low-pressure bringing precipitation will track north-eastwards across the country Saturday afternoon, through Saturday night, clearing into the Irish sea during Sunday afternoon. As the mild moist air meets the cold Arctic air, the rain will turn to sleet and snow in many areas.  

"The cold weather will continue well into next week as a cold Arctic northerly airflow become established from Sunday night. Lying snow will persist in some areas with frosty and icy conditions countrywide. An Advisory has been issued countrywide for Monday (6th of January) through to Thursday (9th of January)."

Deputy Head of Forecasting Liz Coleman says: “A lot of people will be returning home from the festive holidays this weekend. We want people to take heed of the warnings and plan in advance as there will be some really tricky driving conditions out there for a near 24 hour period.

"This rain sleet and snow will be coupled with blustery east to northeast winds which could lead to some drifting snow for as time as well.”

"Stay up to date with the forecast and also with your travel provider as there are likely to be travel disruptions too."

Liz continues: "The cold Arctic air will return on Sunday evening and stay with us right out into next week. It will be bitterly cold next week with some lying snow, widespread severe frost and ice and scattered wintry showers. There could be further complications with freezing fog at times, so we ask people pay attention to the weather forecasts and be prepared."

Met Éireann's full forecast for the week ahead predicts further flurries of snow and sleet too.

They say it will be "cold and blustery today [Sunday] with outbreaks of sleet and snow, along with heavy rain in southern coastal areas. Significant accumulations of snow will occur, mainly in parts of Munster and south Leinster leading to hazardous travelling conditions. There is a chance of localised flooding in the south. The northwest will turn drier through the day. Highest temperatures of just 0 to 4 degrees in moderate to fresh northerly winds.

"Sleet and snow will clear from the east of the country this evening [Sunday] to leave a very cold and icy night. It will become largely dry but wintry showers will follow into Atlantic coastal counties. Lowest temperatures ranging from -5 to zero degrees with moderate to fresh northwest breezes."

Met Éireann's latest forecast says Monday will be "bitterly cold with widespread frost and lying snow. There'll be sunshine and scattered wintry showers of hail, sleet and snow. Some thunder is possible too. Top temperatures generally ranging from zero to +5 degrees but staying below freezing over snow-fields.

The forecast continues: "Clear spells and scattered sleet and snow showers on Monday night, the showers most frequent in the west and north. Widespread frost and ice with lowest temperatures of -5 to zero degrees in moderate west to northwest winds.

"Another very cold day on Tuesday with sunshine and further scattered few wintry showers in the west and north of the country. Frost and ice will linger in some areas all day with highest temperatures ranging from 0 to +5 degrees in moderate northwest winds.

"Bitterly cold on Tuesday night with severe frost as minimum temperatures range from -8 to -3 degrees in light westerly or variable winds. Areas of freezing fog will develop in some areas leading to hazardous travelling conditions. Still a few wintry showers along the north coast.

"Very cold on Wednesday with areas of ice and freezing fog lingering in many areas throughout the day. Where the fog does clear there will be spells of sunshine. Maximum afternoon temperatures will generally range from -3 to +3 degrees in mostly light westerly winds. A little less cold in the northwest of the country. Further wintry showers in northern and northwestern coastal fringes later in the day.

"Another bitterly cold night on Wednesday night with widespread frost and ice along with areas of freezing fog. Some sleet and snow showers along northern and northwestern coastal areas. Lowest temperatures of -7 to -2 degrees.

"Any wintry showers in the north and northwest dying out on Thursday to give a mainly dry chilly day with some sunshine, However frost and freezing dog lingering in southern parts. Max -2 to +5, coldest in the south.

"Rain, sleet and snow spreading northeastwards on Thursday night and Friday, followed by a gradual improvement on temperatures over next weekend," the forecast concludes.