Met Éireann says cold snap is coming to an end 

Met Éireann has said the cold snap that saw tens of thousands without power or water is coming to an end.

The bitterly cold Arctic airmass that has been affecting the country for several days will start to move away, with milder conditions developing later in the weekend.

Met Éireann had issued a Status Orange low temperature and ice warning for more than half the country overnight.

The national forecaster said temperatures dropped below -6 degrees in parts, reaching a low of -6.6 degrees at Mount Dillon, Roscommon.

That advisory, mainly for in-land counties, expired at 8am. However, a week-long Yellow-level warning for the whole country remains in place until noon.

Rising temperatures 

While Friday will still be very cold, a weather front has been slowly moving north-eastwards over the island since Thursday night and will cause temperatures to rise by a few degrees.

Met Éireann said this front will initially give sleet and snow on higher ground but will gradually turn to rain as the front moves north-eastwards through Friday.

The agency’s head of forecasting Eoin Sherlock said: “This prolonged spell of cold, impactful weather is coming to its end this weekend.”

However, he warned that dangerous conditions will persist on Friday.

The ESB and Uisce Éireann said the vast majority of customers who had been cut off from power and water have had their services restored.

Temperatures are expected to stay just above freezing on Friday night.

Mr Sherlock added: “Temperatures will range from 4 to 8 degrees on Saturday, and temperatures should fall to between 2 and 6 degrees in general.

“It will be Sunday before temperatures really start to increase with highs of 8 to 11 degrees as a milder airmass takes its place over the country.”