‘No significant improvement into next week’ – says Met Éireann
Met Éireann meteorologist Linda Hughes has said the worst of the weather has now passed for the day.
“The front which brought that heavy rain overnight has cleared away now, so pretty much dry right across the country at the moment,” she told Drivetime on RTÉ Radio 1.
However, the accompanying Status Yellow low temperature warning issued by the national forecaster for the entire country – valid from 9pm tonight until 10am tomorrow – poses a threat of treacherous conditions due to the freezing of already-saturated ground.
“Much colder air has moved down over the country that came in yesterday, so temperatures widely now tonight are going to get down to -3 degrees, and possibly a bit lower than that in some places,” Ms Hughes said.
“With the rainfall we’ve had at the ground is wet, so we are expecting icy conditions to develop through tonight and into tomorrow morning as well, so there could be some pretty treacherous conditions through tonight and into tomorrow morning.”
The rain and snow warning for Connacht, Longford, Cavan and Donegal is likely to see sleet and snow develop from the early afternoon, continuing until evening, while the rest of the country will experience normal rainfall.
People intending to travel on Valentine’s Day, Ms Hughes said, should begin their journey earlier in order to avoid dangerous driving conditions caused by the inevitable rainfall that is to intensify during the day.
“It will get wet and windy as well once that front comes in the afternoon and evening, so kind of a mix of hazards out there tomorrow.
“Give plenty of time, as always, slow down on the roads. There will be some treacherous conditions, with the ice, followed by that heavy rain and possibly sleet and snow in the Northwest as well.”
She added: “So if you can stay inside for tomorrow.”
Looking at the forecast beyond this week, Ms Hughes struggled to strike an optimistic tone, declaring there to be “no significant improvement on the horizon”.
Keith Kelly