Is your county affected?
As the cold snap impacting Ireland continues, Met Éireann has issued a new Status Orange frozen fog warning which applies to 21 counties.
Valid from midday to midnight on Monday (12 December), it applies to the province of Connacht, as well as the counties Carlow, Cavan, Clare, Donegal, Dublin, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois, Limerick, Longford, Louth, Meath, Monaghan, Offaly, Tipperary and Westmeath.
“Freezing fog, dense in places, will persist through the afternoon and into tonight, leading to very hazardous driving conditions,” it reads.
⚠️Status Orange Freezing Fog Warning issued⚠️
Valid: Midday to midnight Monday
Affected Regions: Connacht, Carlow, Cavan, Clare, Donegal, Dublin, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois, Limerick, Longford, Louth, Mayo, Meath, Monaghan, Offaly, Tipperary & Westmeathhttps://t.co/ZsjQsKCXDy pic.twitter.com/FITVVpoPV9
— Met Éireann (@MetEireann) December 12, 2022
Met Éireann also on Monday published a Status Yellow freezing fog warning Cavan, Connacht, Donegal, Longford, Louth, Meath, Monaghan, Offaly and Westmeath.
This second warning will be valid from 12am to 10am on Tuesday.
⚠️Status Yellow Freezing Fog Warning issued⚠️
Valid: Midnight tonight to 10am Tuesday morning
Affected regions: Connacht, Cavan, Donegal, Longford, Louth, Meath, Monaghan, Offaly and Westmeath
Please see the warning page on https://t.co/dz6JbE5FIb for full details pic.twitter.com/hOJJNhogPU
— Met Éireann (@MetEireann) December 12, 2022
Currently in effect is also a Status Yellow low temperature/ice warning for the entire country which is set to be valid until midday on Friday.
The alert states that it will stay very cold throughout this week with “widespread sharp to severe frosts and icy stretches”.
“Some showers of hail, sleet and snow will occur, mainly near coasts. Accumulations at lower levels are expected to remain low,” it adds.
“Freezing fog will occur at times, with winds remaining light over land.”
As for the possible impacts of these conditions, Met Éireann lists:
- Treacherous conditions on paths and roads
- Travel disruption
- Potential supply disruption
- Potential for burst water pipes and damage to engines
- Increased risks to vulnerable members of the community
- Animal welfare issues
- Slack winds over land leading to reduced wind power generation
Meanwhile, the Road Safety Authority (RSA) has issued a fresh warning to road users regarding the dangers posed by freezing fog, which has been forecasted to impact Ireland over the coming days.
It said that freezing fog – combined with possible icy roads caused by expected -5 and below temperatures – poses a safety risk for road users.
For more on the RSA’s advice, see here.
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