Weather will worsen across Ireland, but salt and Twitter will help

Bad news: the weather is going to get worse before it gets better, but Minister Noel Dempsey says there's more salt this year plus Twitter updates.

Met Eireann are forcasting more snow, more frost and freezing fog are on the way, as chill Arctic winds make their presence felt and combine with equally bitterly cold Siberian winds. Latest forecasts have temperatures dropping yet lower to between -5 and -10 degrees Centigrade.

It will be particularly cold around Galway, Sligo, Donegal and Mayo, but no part of the country will be spared.

Cold indeed. But Transport Minister Noel Dempsey has made moves to reassure us that, on this matter at least, the Government are in control (well, as best as they can be).

At a press conference on Saturday he revealed that this year the National Roads Authority has sourced 80,000 tonnes of salt supplies for use as required on the road network in the event of prolonged severe weather. This compares with total average salt use over a complete winter of, on average, 60,000 tonnes.

It's worth noting that even with the extra salt,  only 20 per cent of roads will be treated.

Bus Eireann and Irish Rail will also issue real time updates via Twitter on any changes to their services over the coming days in an effort to minimise disruption to the public.

The NRA website includes real-time information on the road state of various routes on the national road network. (Typical real-time information includes whether the road is wet, there is ice, frost, snow or whether the road has been treated).  This is designed to help the public when planning a journey.

There may be some sun in parts on Sunday, but the temperature will rarely rise above freezing.