Cold snap continues to bite as temperatures plummet to -6 overnight

Muireann Duffy

Arctic air is continuing to bring freezing temperatures, as another series of weather alerts remained in place overnight.

Motorists are again being warned that freezing temperatures will lead to widespread icy patches, creating hazardous travel conditions.

Temperatures fell below freezing across much of the country on Monday night, with a low of -6.3 degrees noted in Moore Park, Co Cork.

Lowest overnight air temperature of -6.3 degrees recorded at our station at Moore Park, Co. Cork at 05:00 16/01/2024.⤵️📉🥶 pic.twitter.com/VGXCIMYXQV

— Met Éireann (@MetEireann) January 16, 2024

Yellow alerts for low temperatures, snow and ice cover the 26 counties in the Republic until 11am on Tuesday, while a similar warning from the UK Met Office for the six counties in the North will lift at the same time.

Met Éireann warned severe frost and icy stretches are likely, adding the coldest temperatures will be felt in the southern half of the country.

⚠️ Yellow Weather Warning – Snow/Ice ⚠️
📍 Cavan, Leitrim, Louth, Monaghan
📆 Tues 16, 12am – Tues 16, 11am
Overnight and on Tuesday morning - outbreaks of sleet and snow with small accumulations. Impacts:
- Dangerous driving conditions
- Poor visibility #VisionZero pic.twitter.com/bxdAvVJ8wj

— RSA Ireland (@RSAIreland) January 15, 2024

Outbreaks of sleet and snow were also expected in the northern half of the country overnight.

An alert for Donegal added: "Scattered wintry showers will give way to more widespread sleet or snow for a time overnight with the potential for small accumulations."

The recent cold snap has been caused by an arctic airmass, which Met Éireann said will bring "winter hazards" throughout this week.

Similarly cold conditions are gripping the UK, while parts of the US are seeing record-low temperatures.

A weather advisory issued by Met Éireann on Sunday remains in effect, and is set to last until midday on Friday.