LATEST ON SNOW: 'Significant accumulations' due for Laois - Met Éireann weather forecast #sneachta

Met Éireann has issued Status Orange alerts as snow continues to fall in Laois on top of an already blanketed county and the forecaster says we're not out of the woods yet.

The worse of the white stuff is yet to fall in Laois according to the up-to-date forecast for Ireland from Met Éireann which has issued a Status Orange alert for the county and Leinster for Thursday night going into Friday morning.

The alert warns that significant accumulations are expected.

BREAKING: Laois hit with snow Status Orange #sneachta

A Status Yellow alert is in force for all of Ireland through Thursday. A Status Orange alert has been issued for parts of the west and northwest and some midland counties through the day. More on what's to come below tweet.

⚠️ Yellow Weather Advisory - Snow/Ice/Low Temperature ⚠️
❄️ Widespread icy stretches across the country. Accumulations of snow clearing eastwards. Possible Impacts:
● Hazardous driving conditions
● Travel disruption
● Poor visibility
(1/2) pic.twitter.com/kuvj2Gpqsm

— RSA Ireland (@RSAIreland) March 8, 2023

National Forecast issued at: 09 March 2023 10:58

Thursday: Rain, sleet and snow will continue to spread northeastwards to most areas with poor visibility and hazardous road conditions in some parts. Afternoon highs of 0 to 3 degrees generally, but significantly milder in southern coastal areas. Northeasterly winds will freshen this afternoon and it will become rather windy for a time this evening.

Cold and windy at first at night with falls of sleet and snow in many areas giving rise to very poor visibility and hazardous road conditions. The sleet and snow will continue overnight over the eastern half of the country, but it will become drier further west with frost and ice developing under clear breaks. Lowest temperatures of -4 to 0 degrees coldest in the west, with northerly winds gradually easing light to moderate overnight.

Watch: Laois path snowplough hits the road in Portlaoise #sneachta

Friday: Residual rain, sleet and snow in the east will clear into the Irish Sea early on Friday morning, giving way to a cold and mostly dry day with sunny spells. Highest temperatures of 4 to 7 degrees in light variable breezes.

Dry in many areas to begin on Friday night but with cloud gradually thickening from the southwest. Rain in the southwest will spread northeastwards over Munster and parts of Connacht and Leinster overnight, falling as a wintry mix of sleet and snow initially. Lows of -3 to +3 degrees, generally but locally colder in the northeast where snow is lying and skies remain clearest the longest. Light to moderate southeast breezes will be fresher near west and southwest coasts.

Saturday: Rain, sleet and snow will continue to extend northeastwards over the country on Saturday morning with transient accumulations across Connacht, Ulster and parts of Leinster before a clearance extends from the southwest during the afternoon and evening. Afternoon temperatures will range from 1 to 2 degrees in the north to 12 or 13 degrees in the southwest. Moderate and occasionally gusty southeast winds, fresh to strong near coasts, will veer west to southwest as the rain clears.

Watch: Short stroll in the Laois snow through Portlaoise Peoples Park #sneachta

The last of the rain and sleet will clear the northeast early on Saturday night and most places will be dry with variable cloud and clear spells for a time. Cloud will thicken countrywide later in the night and patchy rain and drizzle will develop in the western counties towards morning. Moderate southwest winds will be fresh to strong near coasts. Minimum temperatures of 2 to 6 degrees will occur early on with temperatures ranging 4 to 8 degrees overnight.

Sunday: Becoming wet and windy. Rain will become widespread during the morning, before transitioning to showers in the afternoon and evening. Afternoon highs of 10 to 14 degrees in moderate to fresh and gusty southerly winds, strong near coasts. A windy night on Sunday with showers or longer spells of rain. Lows of 6 to 9 degrees generally, but 4 to 6 degrees in Ulster. Fresh to strong and gusty southwest winds with gales in some sea areas.

Monday: Scattered showers to begin, but becoming mainly dry with sunny spells for a time in the afternoon. Another spell of rain will arrive from the Atlantic towards evening. A windy or breezy morning with fresh to strong and gusty west to northwest winds easing light to moderate in the afternoon. Afternoon highs of 5 to 8 degrees in the north, 9 to 12 degrees further south.

Further Outlook: Unsettled with a mobile Atlantic regime predominating - wet and breezy spells alternating with short intervals of drier and brighter conditions. Temperatures generally trending near to above average.