Met Éireann issues snow/ice warning for all of Ireland as Storm Jorge arrives

The country is going to experience all sorts of weather this weekend.

Met Éireann has issued a status yellow snow/ice warning for the Republic of Ireland as the country braces itself for the arrival of Storm Jorge. The warning, issued at 7am on Saturday morning, is valid from 7am until 4pm on Saturday. https://twitter.com/MetEireann/status/1233656515476758529 Wintry showers of hail, sleet and snow are expected to spread eastwards across the country, leading to icy conditions. A more persistent band of rain and sleet will cross the country later in the morning, turning to snow, particularly over counties in the midlands and north of the country and on high ground elsewhere. Sleet, snow, cold temperatures and strong winds will lead to low visibility and hazardous driving conditions, so if you do have to get behind the wheel on Saturday, be sure to exercise extreme caution. As of Saturday morning, there are eight weather warnings in place that affect all counties in the Republic of Ireland, illustrating the anticipated impact of Storm Jorge this weekend. A status red wind warning for Galway and Clare, warning of gusts of up to 145 km/h and an elevated risk of coastal flooding, will be in effect from 1pm to 4pm on Saturday. All other counties will be affected by a status orange wind warning at some point on Saturday afternoon. The west of the country – Mayo, Kerry, Donegal, Leitrim and Sligo - will be hit with gusts of up to 130 km/h, while the strongest winds will only be slightly weaker (max 120 km/h) in all other counties. Before and after the status orange warning comes into effect in those counties – all counties in Leinster, Cavan, Monaghan, Roscommon, Cork, Limerick, Tipperary and Waterford – a status yellow wind warning will be in effect, from 9am-1pm and from 7pm to midnight on Saturday. As well as the strong winds, a status yellow rainfall warning will apply to all six counties in Munster, all five counties in Connacht and Donegal until midnight on Saturday night. Details on all the warnings can be found here. Conditions are expected to be particularly wild on Irish coasts this weekend, with a status red marine warning also in place and winds anticipated to reach Storm Force 11 (Storm Force 12 is Hurricane Status) at times on Saturday morning and afternoon.