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LAST UPDATE | 11 Feb 2021
THE COLD WEATHER is set to continue over the next few days with Met Éireann forecasting sleet, snow and low temperatures across the country.
The forecaster has in place Status Yellow weather warnings for most of the country from this morning, with more warnings expected as conditions worsen.
It probably won’t reach the level of 2018′s Beast from the East, but here’s everything you need to know about the wintry weather at the moment.
Snow?
Rain, sleet & snow in Munster, will push NE'wards into Connacht & much of Leinster. Snow will lead to some hazardous conditions. However, snow will revert to rain or sleet in S & SW coasts later. Cold & windy. Highs of 1-3C. Gusty SE'erly winds. https://t.co/9gKN6SVok4 #sneachta pic.twitter.com/MCoJc96nld
— Met Éireann (@MetEireann) February 11, 2021
Met Éireann has prepared a handy animation to show the chances of it snowing where you are in the country today.
The heaviest snow will be experienced on high ground in Munster and south Leinster during this period, the forecaster said.
These are the approximate times for when rain/snow will arrive:
Speaking to Newstalk Breakfast this morning, Met Éireann’s head of forecasting, Evelyn Cusack, said there is a band of rain pushing in from the Atlantic, turning to snow as it hits the cold air.
“It’s just getting into the south-west at the moment, into Kerry,” she said. “At our station on Valentia Island the temperature is 3 degrees. It’s just rain there. So it’s turning to snow then as it begins to move in over the mountains.
“This band of rain, sleet and snow will continue up over the country but it’s not going to reach – say if you’re in Dublin – it’s not going to reach Dublin in daylight hours. A line say from Dublin to Sligo, northeast of that line, is going to stay dry.”
She said snow is likely to reach the east and north tonight but it “will be fizzling out at that stage”.
Cusack said there will be a risk of flooding in the south of the country at the end of the week and moving into the weeekend.
A couple of days ago, graupel (otherwise known as snow pellets) was spotted falling from the sky, as opposed to the regular snow.
Met Éireann explained that these are formed when super cooled water droplets freeze onto a snow crystal.
The forecaster said there will be sleet and snow in the southwest this morning. This will gradually extend towards Munster, Connacht and south Leinster during the day, with snow accumulations leading to some hazardous conditions.
This snow is set to turn to rain or sleet in southern or southwestern coastal areas. It will remain mostly dry elsewhere across the country, with sunny spells.
However, it’ll still be windy and very cold with highest temperatures of one to three degrees.
Winds are set to be strongest in the west and south west.
Tonight, there will be sleet and snow in Munster, Connacht and Leinster early on. This will be largely confined to Leinster throughout the night, with rain continuing towards the south coast.
Temperatures will stay between one and minus two degrees.
As for tomorrow, there will be some lingering sleet or snow in Leinster in the morning with rain set to continue in southern coastal counties.
In the afternoon, rain will move across the west and potentially turn to sleet or snow in the north west of the country.
Temperatures will reach between four and eight degrees in Munster, but will remain colder in the rest of the country with highs of one to four degrees.
Weather warnings
The public was advised yesterday to expect disruptions to travel systems, along with additional weather warnings in the coming days.
A Status Yellow snow/ice warning took effect at 8am this morning for Munster, Connacht and Leinster. It will remain in place until 8am tomorrow.
Snow of up to 5cm will be experienced in parts, but this will transition into rain in the west and south of the country by tonight.
There will be snow accumulations of up to 5cm in some parts of the country, Met Éireann said.
There is a further Status Yellow wind warning also in place for Munster, Connacht and Leinster from 8am today until 8am tomorrow, with strong to gale force southeast winds expected.
The forecaster said the winds, combined with the rain, sleet and snow, will lead to poor visibility and hazardous conditions.
Plans in place
The National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management on Severe Weather said yesterday that today’s snow accumulations could lead to “hazardous conditions in some areas”.
The group said these accumulations have the potential to disrupt transport.
It emphasised yesterday that all unnecessary travel should continue to be avoided in line with current public health advice under Level 5 restrictions.
The group continues to meet daily, working with Met Éireann, the Office of Public Works, local authorities and other government departments.
In Dublin, the city council has a Winter Maintenance Plan in place for the next couple of days.
Roads in the city have been gritted all throughout this week and all road users, including cyclists, have been advised to “take care on the roads and slow down”.
The Dublin Region Homeless Executive (DRHE) has also activated its extreme weather plan.
There is spare accommodation capacity each night and if the weather worsens, the DRHE has “additional contingency beds ready to come into operation”.
In Cork, the county council is salting roads as necessary and snow ploughs are on standby to be deployed if necessary.
Drivers are advised to take care, especially near the coasts as high onshore winds combined with snowfall could lead to dangerous road conditions.
In Galway, the city council crews and gritters are on standby and members of the public are advised to take “all precautions necessary to stay safe”, particularly those still travelling to work.
Travel
The Road Safety Authority (RSA) has advised all road users to take extra care on the roads this week.
They said people should check their local traffic and weather conditions before making any (essential) journeys.
In terms of practical advice, the RSA said people should remove all snow from their vehicles before going onto the roads.
Any snow left on the roof will become loose and can drop onto the windscreen when the vehicle brakes. It could also fall off while driving.
People should also clear windows and mirrors using a screen scraper and de-icer. It’s advised not to use hot water on the windscreen as this could crack the glass.
The RSA advised slowing down in snowy and icy conditions, using controls delicately and leaving extra distance between yourself and the vehicle in front. People are also advised to use the highest gear possible in cars to avoid wheel spin.
In blizzard conditions, visibility will be greatly reduced so the RSA advised not driving on the tail lights of the vehicle in front of you.
“This can give a false sense of security and you will be too close to be able to brake safely,” the RSA said.
Cars should use dipped headlights at all times. Fog lights should be used in heavy snow to ensure cars are seen by other vehicles.
Pedestrians are advised to wear high visibility clothing or carry a torch, wear appropriate footwear, walk on the footpath rather than the street, walk on the road facing traffic if there are no footpaths and use extreme caution when approaching any icy or snowy patches to avoid slipping.
Cyclists and motorcyclists are advised to ensure their lights are working correctly and wear high visibility clothing.
Pets
The Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ISPCA) issued some advice to keep pets safe during frosty and snowy periods.
The group said that some pets – such as small dogs, sighthounds, short-haired dogs and older dogs – may have lower tolerances for freezing temperatures when going on walks.
It recommended going on shorter, more frequent walks on colder days and contacting your vet for more advice if needed.
Try to keep dogs away from roads covered in salt and wipe down their paws, legs and belly to remove any salt and de-icing chemicals that may have gotten on them.
These can cause irritation or stomach upset if licked off by the dog, the ISPCA said.
Don’t leave pets outside for long periods on cold or wet days, and ensure they have warm shelter available that’s away from the harsh conditions.
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Been in bed together for years and now they expect you to believe they are different!…no difference just a different shade of blue
@John O’sullivan: whatever shade they have helped build a thriving economy and a country with a very high standard of living. Long may they continue their stellar efforts
@Argus Romsworth: Funny joke. Record homeless figures. Hoghest house prices have ever been. Architecting a demographic time bomb because young people can’t afford a house, nevermind a family. Pissed away billions of taxpayer money to private hoteliers (via direct provision and emergency accommodation schemes, only implementable by the truly short sighted gowls we see in government under FFG) and landlords (via HAP) instead of building long term solutions. They are not fit to make a bed, nevermind lead a country going through record surpluses.
@Argus Romsworth: High standard of living? That’s why we have people who are unable to afford to go to the doctor, and will now have to make the decision between eating properly or warming their homes in winter. W
@Sean Stevenson: The homeless situation is dire and especially for the children growing up in that. The current homeless in Ireland represents 0.269% of the population. By any measure, that is an extremely low stat. This does not negate the fact that the situation is getting progressively worse with the number increasing every month and real lives are behind that figure.
@Sean Stevenson: you’re absolutely correct
@John O’sullivan: your sexual preferences are of no business to the rest of us. Who you share your bed with is your business
@Argus Romsworth: You really make me sick you utter tool.
@Paul M Doe: I’d say you haven’t got out of the bed in a long time, your so lazy you use the bed pan.
@Argus Romsworth: don’t forget the cost of living that most are finding hard to make end meet, that the real economy for the low and middle income family’s.
@Argus Romsworth: just cop on
@Argus Romsworth: does it not bother you that another young Irish person was killed by a non national in kildare ,this is happening on a weekly basis
@Paul M Doe: your so lazy you would get someone else to have for you.
@Argus Romsworth: remember argus, this is the journal and the comments section is full of people with their hands out.. and full of people that never take personal responsibility.
The donkey Doherty got absolutely roasted lol
Not an honest person between the lot of them. All optics, 2 cheeks, one hole and a whole lot of BS.
@Daniel Gilroy: that’s SF/IRA for you
@Paul M Doe: FFG/Magdalene Laundries have a much worse, more sinister history if we’re playing that game :)
@Sean Stevenson: The Magdalen Laundries were a legacy from an earlier version of the IRA. They got “freedom” but no idea how to finance it and handed education and health to the church to run. It took until to sixties to clear up the mess they made.
@Paul M Doe: No gimp features, it’s 100 years of FFG failure. Shocking homelessness figures, a crumbling health service, useless public transport, poor investment record, poor public management of critical infrastructure. Scandal after scandal. How do you make the public forget about the last scandal have another one. I don’t support SF, just don’t have Stockholm syndrome.
@Vincent Alexander: Incorrect, they still existed well into the seventies, unfortunately!
@Daniel Gilroy: May they rule for 1000 years :)
It’s all incredibly depressing .If ever there was a case of the elephant in the room it’s this current situation .We had a housing crisis so they solved it by allowing more and more unwanted ppl in ,We had a health crisis so same solution .Is there any alternative to voting that wasteful shower
@Joan Grennan: Again, blame immigrants, not the actual problem despite you and others constantly beating that drum, the British mindset is alive and well in Ireland, despite us having emigrated in drpves for over 100 years. Your story has no merit.
@Joan Grennan: we need a COMPLETE change of government. Or FG will continue their rampage.
@Trump24: dream on time for them to go get real can’t be trusted can’t trust any party all the same
@Brian D’Arcy: Yes , the Irish people went all over the world . Mostly to countries with larger populations and or larger land areas than Ireland . Over the last 20 years Irish population has gone from 3.5 million people to 5.3 million people . Ireland a small country has been overrun by immigrants from the 4 corners of the world , immigrants that Irish people have very little in common with culturally . Irish people were NEVER asked for their views on this influx and they were never given an opportunity to vote for or against it in a referendum , though we’ve had a referendum on such nonsense as same sex so-called “marriage” . The culprits responsible for this out of control immigration are FG FF GP and these same are now seeking votes in the General Election . I for one will not vote for any of them .
@Joan Grennan: Sinn Féin and other, anybody but FF/FG the two political parties that have left us in this mess after a hundred years.
God help us when FFFG take control again. With lots of countries tightening their borders Ireland will be destination of choice for the unvetted migrants. As it is our country has been overrun. Housing, education and health suffering. Micheal doesnt like nationalism.
@GERRY MURPHY: Even Germany have re instated full Border Controls, as they have lost control of their State. The most liberal & prosperous country in Europe doesn’t even have a Govt now & is deeply divided, just like France. Immigration will bring down Europe & very soon. Putin & the Islamic Fundamentalists are laughing as Europe is falling without them even trying. As you rightly say we are now going to become the main destination with all our pull factors, like “voluntary deportation”. I expect the 150,000 people will be exceeded in 2025/2026 & when recession hits Europe, Ireland will fall apart & the divisions open up into a breakdown in society.
Two cheeks of the same ar$£e with etheir snouts in the same troth.
Long as labor don’t get nowhere I’ll b happy remember when they tried to close our p/o,s in favour of greedy banks still on their books labour doing it in UK they’ll do it here to given the chance
@liam ward: there all the same
Fine Gael Fianna Fáil landslide
The economy is booming
@older people please vote stop living on bread line
@Tony Gleeson: the framework is there for all to be prosperous in this country
@Argus Romsworth: Capitalism by it’s very nature disallows prosperity for all.
@Argus Romsworth: I daresay it is, for the chosen elite!
@Argus Romsworth: Time for a reality check .We have a booming economy which cd well and truly bomb depending on what the fall out is from U.K.election . They have squandered money every which way ,which is not just about waste but shows monumental lack of judgement and intelligence . Add to which it’s all posturing and conniving .
@Argus Romsworth: I have read your posts before with derision. You are probably the most deluded tool out there. Are you sure you are ok?. The country isn’t booming. Our GDP to debt ratio is enormous. These pigs in FFG ensured our children’s children will be repaying private bank debt for years to come.We are fuc ked if people like you think this gov is doing a great job. Truly fuc ked.
@Argus Romsworth: dream on this country is finished
@Gerry Lamont: well said, truly fu!!ed It the ordinary working person don’t get out and vote, we need a change now more than ever.
If you want change VOTE for it, enough of the PUB talk ,just do it.
They are big hams alright. All these lies, people better not fall for it
@John: Yeah, everyone knows it… hopefully her family will get justice.
Surely the electorate couldn’t be that gullable. Oh wait..
This bunch of reprobates will be reelected by the same idiots who voted for them last election.It will a coalition with Labour, a party who targeted the poor and less well off last time in gov.while leaving the rich untouched. It will be an unholy trinity at its worst which will wreck this country.
If Jack Chambers & Hildegarde Naughton, two Ministers, are the best both parties can do, then this country is goosed. It was car crash stuff, childish, arrogant, embarrassing to watch & as a working family, their performance left us without any hope. Jack Chambers was very aggressive & how he was allowed dominate the air time was not right, a pompous arrogant gobsite, he was also continually having to refer to his notes, not on top of his brief, Hildegarde the same. Doherty actually came out on top & made sense, Ged Nash was one dimensional focusing on Tax implementation. The empty promises & lies coming from all political parties is contemptible, as they are pathological liars & have no intention of implementing any of them. Time for big change.
@SV3tN8M4: tell us about this “big change” that you are advocating for? Who?
@John: I did not know this. I thought it was Larry Murphy?
It was better than watching big brother, great TV
Please for the love of god nobody vote back in these wasters. We don’t have much choice but I’d rather SF over these yolks
Hi
So they worried about what happened in the US them?!?
Nobody cares as there fooling no one
Thats why i am voting sinn fein. They been in government together and thing are worst then ever. Cost living is crazy
So obvious now it’s dog eat dog.
Vote FG.. FF
Nobody cares as there fooling no one.
have your say