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Eamonn Farrell
Snowy scenes yesterday near Kilcullen, Co. Kildare.
# ice warning
New nationwide status yellow ice warning to come into effect at 4pm
Met Éireann warns that icy stretches, and possible black ice in parts, will lead to hazardous travelling conditions.
LAST UPDATE | Jan 19th 2023, 12:07 PM
A STATUS YELLOW warning for ice will come into effect at 4pm today until noon tomorrow, just hours after the previous warning was lifted.
An Arctic airflow moving onto Ireland has led to colder than usual temperatures, causing Met Éireann to issue ice warnings for five consecutive days.
The forecaster warns that icy stretches, and possible black ice in parts, will lead to hazardous travelling conditions.
Met Éireann also advises that winter showers will continue in places, with freezing rain possible in the south-west.
They may be freezing fog patches also.
The outbreaks of rain and sleet will occur mostly across the north-west and south-west, but will clear through the morning.
Mostly dry weather will follow for the rest of the day with sunny spells, although some mist and fog may set in across the south-west later.
The UK Met Office has issued a similar snow and ice warning for the North.
Driving conditions
Motorists have been urged to slow down and drive a safe distance from the vehicle in front.
The Road Safety Authority also warns that black ice is “one of winter’s biggest hazards” and advises that it usually forms in sheltered or shaded areas, such as under trees or near high walls.
The RSA says the best way to avoid skidding is to slow down and to treat every road as though it is frozen during free zing conditions.
If a motorist encounters black ice, the RSA says the “main thing is not to brake”.
Motorists should instead take their foot off the accelerator and use every control delicately.
