Met Éireann issue new Status Orange weather warning for this week

Met Éireann has issued a new Status Orange snow-ice warning for Leinster.

They warn that deep lying snow remains in places and is slow to thaw. They also say there is a continuing potential for localised flooding due to the thaw.

Frost and icy conditions are forecast for tonight and Tuesday morning.

The warning was issued at 9am on Monday morning and is valid until 10am on Tuesday morning, March 6.

FORECAST

Monday

Mist and fog will gradually lift this morning to give a rather cold and mostly cloudy day, with patches of rain or drizzle. Later today however some bright or sunny spells will develop. Snow-melt will continue, leading to an accumulation of surface water and the ongoing risk of flooding. Maximum temperatures of 4 to 7 degrees Celsius, in near calm.

Tonight

Cold tonight with a mix of cloud and clear spells and just isolated showers. Treacherous conditions will persist as frost and ice set in. Lowest temperatures -3 and +2 degrees Celsius. Mist and fog will also form in light variable breeze

Tomorrow

Frost and fog will gradually clear on Tuesday morning to leave a predominantly cloudy and calm day, with a scattering of showers. Maximum temperatures will range from 5 to 8 degrees Celsius again in near calm conditions.

Outlook

Headline: Staying rather cold this week with the risk of frost and ice by night. 

Tuesday Night: Largely dry but with a few showers possible in western and northern coastal counties. Frost and ice will return where skies clear as temperatures fall to between -3 and +2 degrees. Mist and fog will form also in light to moderate, westerly or variable breezes. 

Wednesday: Cool and bright on Wednesday with sunny intervals and scattered slow-moving showers, some of the showers of hail and sleet. Maximum temperatures will range from 5 to 8 degrees in moderate westerly breezes. Mostly dry overnight but with a few scattered showers. Frost and ice forming as temperatures fall to between -4 and +1 degrees. 

Thursday: Bright spells and showers on Thursday, some of the showers will be wintry with falls of snow possible on high ground. Highest temperatures will range from 6 to 9 degrees in light, westerly winds. Mostly dry overnight but with a sharp frost forming under clearing skies. Lowest temperatures of -3 to +1 degrees. 

Friday: Dry, bright and frosty on Friday morning. However, cloud will build in southern counties by early afternoon and outbreaks of rain will move in. The rain will then sweep northwards to all areas later in the day, possibly falling as snow for a time in the northwest. Highest temperatures of 6 to 9 degrees in freshening southeasterly winds. 

Weekend: Present indications suggest it will turn milder over the weekend but staying unsettled with outbreaks of rain and strong winds.