Cold snap to bite harder in Laois before thaw as new Status Orange alert declared

While a thaw might be in sight, Met Éireann has issued a new Status Orange warning for a freezing night and morning with a major plunge in temperatures forecasted.

The Status Orange Warning for low temperature and ice says will be extremely cold on Wednesday night with widespread temperatures below -5 degrees leading to severe frost and ice.

The warning also applies to Laois, Carlow, Kilkenny, Longford, Louth, Meath, Offaly, Westmeath, Cavan, Monaghan, Clare, Cork, Kerry, Limerick, Tipperary, Galway, Leitrim, Roscommon.

The alert comes into effect for Laois at 6pm on Wednesday, December 14 and is valid until 12 noon on Thursday.

Met Éireann says there'll be snow and sleet across parts of Ulster on Thursday night, but most other places will stay dry.

Patches of freezing fog may develop as winds fall light. Temperatures will be as low as minus 7 degrees fairly widely, staying closer to zero to minus 2 degrees where fog thickens.

Meanwhile the Status Yellow - Low Temperature/Ice warning for Ireland remains in place until 12 noon on Friday. 

As to the rest of the week to the weekend Met Eireann said it will remaining very cold with widespread sharp to severe frosts and icy stretches.

"Some showers of hail, sleet and snow will occur, mainly near coasts. Accumulations at lower levels are expected to remain low. Freezing fog will occur at times, with winds remaining light over land."

Possible impacts include:

• Treacherous conditions on paths and roads

• Travel disruption

• Potential supply disruption

• Potential for burst water pipes and damage to engines

• Increased risks to vulnerable members of the community

• Animal welfare issues

• Slack winds over land leading to reduced wind power generation

Beyond Friday a change looks to be on the way. Met Éireann says that while there is still a good deal of uncertainty in the forecast from Saturday night and Sunday onwards. the indications suggest that an increasing southerly wind will bring rain and a spell of milder weather for a time.

National Forecast issued at 9.39am Wednesday, December 14

Wednesday:  Temperatures falling quickly to as low as minus 4 degrees by late afternoon, continuing to fall during the evening. It'll be a mainly dry and sunny day, with isolated showers in the north and possibly near Irish Sea coasts also. Light to moderate north to northeast winds.

Temperatures will reach as low as minus 6 degrees widely overnight, and locally several degrees lower, temperatures at the coasts will be around minus 1 to plus 1 degrees. Remaining generally clear and dry in a light northerly breeze, though there will be a few showers in the north and northwest, falling as sleet and snow at times.

Thursday: Temperatures will remain below freezing during the morning everywhere, with some parts of the midlands staying well below freezing through the day, in the afternoon temperatures generally will be between zero and plus 2 degrees, a few degrees higher on coasts. It'll be mainly dry and sunny. There will be a few wintry showers in the north and northwest. Winds will be light northwesterly.

Friday: May be foggy for a while in places, it'll be mainly dry with isolated showers on coasts creeping inland into western areas in the afternoon. Still very cold with afternoon temperatures no higher than plus 1 to 4 degrees in light to moderate southwest winds.

Lowest temperatures of minus 3 degrees to plus 2 degrees on Friday night, there'll be lingering showers of rain and sleet in western areas otherwise it will stay dry.

Saturday: Mainly dry and sunny on Saturday, apart from isolated coastal showers in the south and west. Turning cloudier after nightfall. Daytime temperatures of 2 to 4 degrees generally, temperatures along the south coast will creep up to 7 or 8 degrees.

Further outlook: There is still a good deal of uncertainty in the forecast from Saturday night and Sunday onwards. Current indications suggest that an increasing southerly wind will bring rain and a spell of milder weather for a time.