'Question mark over schools opening' - Latest on possible impact of Status Orange Snow Warning as accumulations of snow expected

Met Éireann is warning people in Offaly and other Leinster counties, particularly drivers, to prepare for significant accumulations of snow on Friday morning after very cold and snowy overnight conditions.

The worst of the weather is set to hit the most populated counties in Ireland and this was enough to cause Met Eireann to issue its second-highest level weather alert  - a Status Orange - which will be in effect on Thursday night up to 10am on Friday.

The National Emergency Coordination Group convened to coordinate a response.

Its chairman Keith Leonard warned that drivers face particularly hazardous conditions in east of the country.

"Particularly around that commute time between 7am and 9.30am tomorrow morning", he said.

He also said some schools may not open.

"There's definitely a question mark over schools opening everywhere but it'll be hard to know which schools will be affected so principals will make that decision tomorrow based on the local conditions.

"The east coast is going to have the highest accumulations of snow but in reality tomorrow but with the ice that's already happened and the snow that's been in the west today, there could be hazardous conditions across the country.

"So school principals across the country will be making that judgment tonight and tomorrow morning," he said on RTÉ.

The National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management Crisis Management Team continues to monitor developments, liaising with Local Authority Severe Weather Assessment Teams in Laois and other counties and Crisis Management Teams who are actively monitoring the evolution of weather conditions.

Authorities say cold weather arrangements remain in place throughout the country to ensure that there is adequate capacity to prevent any need for rough sleeping during the current period.

The Weather Warning says spells of sleet and snow overnight combined with strong northerly winds will cause "significant accumulations" of in some areas by morning along with icy conditions.

Met Éireann says the pssible impacts are:
● Very hazardous road conditions
● Travel disruption
● Poor Visibility

The alert is valid from midnight Thursday to 10am on Friday.

A Status Yellow snow-Ice warning for Ireland is valid for all of Ireland up to noon on Friday.

Large parts of the country had already been hit with substantial snow on Thursday but Met Éireann expects the next wave to be worse.