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Heavy frost covers the ground along the Royal Canal this morning in Dublin. File photo. Sam Boal
Cold Snap
Status Yellow warning takes hold amid 'very cold' weather with ice and frost conditions
Met Éireann has warned of very cold temperatures with widespread frost and icy stretches.
LAST UPDATE | 19 Nov 2024
A STATUS YELLOW weather warning has taken effect across the country ahead of icy conditions and low temperatures.
The alert has been in place from 8pm and will last until 10am tomorrow morning, with Met Éireann warning of very cold temperatures with widespread frost and icy stretches.
It could make for hazardous conditions on roads and paths and some travel disruption.
The same low temperature and ice warning will once again take effect nationwide on Wednesday evening, being in place from 8pm Wednesday to 10pm Thursday.
Meanwhile, Northern Ireland is under a Yellow warning for snow and ice until 10am tomorrow morning.
It follows a weather advisory put out by Met Éireann last week which warned people are in for “quite a shock” this week as temperatures plummet from the relatively mild weather seen so far in November.
The forecaster added that the northern half of the country can expect some sleet and snow this week during the first “cold snap” of the season.
Local councils and the Road Safety Authority have issued warnings to road users to exercise caution while travelling.
Earlier today, counties Cavan, Donegal, Leitrim, Mayo, Monaghan, and Sligo, had Status Yellow warning for snow and ice in place until 11am.
Met Éireann said snowfall accumulations are possible and that some impacts may include poor visibility and difficult travelling conditions.
A similar alert was in place across Northern Ireland, with the UK Met Office alert in place until 10am.
Another Status Yellow snow and ice warning was also issued by Met Éireann for Thursday morning, with hazardous conditions expected to hit southern counties.
Counties Clare, Cork, Kerry, Limerick, Tipperary and Waterford will be affected by poor visibility and dangerous travelling conditions, according to the forecaster.
Emergency services
The Dublin Region Homeless Executive (DRHE) have put ‘extreme weather’ beds on standby for those sleeping rough amid the current cold spell.
The DRHE confirmed that there is a total additional capacity of 192 permanent beds in Dublin as part of their Cold Weather Strategy.
They added that 104 further ‘extreme weather’ beds that can be made available in case of extreme weather conditions.
“The Dublin Region Outreach Service is working directly with rough sleepers from 7am to 1am daily, and assists any individuals they meet to take up emergency accommodation,” DRHE confirmed in a statement.
The Simon Community have urged members of the public to keep an eye out for those who are rough sleeping during the the “perilous” cold weather spell, which they say can “pose a serious risk of life” to the homeless community.
No one should face this festive season sleeping rough in the freezing cold. Our Outreach Team, operating 365 days a year, are working incredibly hard to support and prioritise those most vulnerable during this cold spell. pic.twitter.com/i00vhLtsHM
— Dublin Simon (@Dublin_Simon) November 18, 2024
The charity have called for the public to alert specialist services if they see anyone sleeping on the streets, saying that those with concerns about rough sleepers in Dublin can submit a location-based report on the Rough Sleeper Alerts app.
Rough sleepers spotted in Cork can be reported to the Cork-based Simon team at (021) 427 8728.
Includes reporting by Emma Hickey and Andrew Walsh
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