MET Éireann has warned that more snow could be on the way today after Storm Freya battered Ireland with heavy snowfall and strong winds on Sunday.
While conditions are expected to improve today, the freezing weather has had a serious impact on travellers – with dozens of flights grounded or delayed at Dublin Airport last night and thousands of motorists caught up in traffic chaos.
.@DublinAirport is open & operational. Some airlines are experiencing delays to their flight schedules as a result of de-icing issues. Passengers are advised to check with their airline for latest flight updates. We apologise for any inconvenience caused.
— Dublin Airport (@DublinAirport) 3 March 2019
Weather has regrettably caused a small number of Dublin cancellations (3/3). All those affected were advised of their rebook/refund options
— Ryanair (@Ryanair) 3 March 2019
Met Éireann forecaster Joan Blackburn said that there is lying snow in places, and it will be a cold and showery day ahead with a chance of further snowfall.
"The showers today, they are going to be widespread, they are going to be heavy, they are going to be of rain or hail and we will see some of wintry falls on higher ground," she said on Monday morning.
"Some falls of sleet or possibly snow on the hilly areas and some thunder also, mainly in the north and west of the country.
"A cold day with top temperatures of 5 to 8 degrees Celsius, with moderate to fresh and gusty west to southwest winds".
Cold with snow lying in places at first today. Showers mainly of rain and hail today but turning to longer spells of rain at times, some heavy with the risk of thunder. Any sleet or snow showers mainly restricted to high ground. Highest temperatures of 4 to 8 degrees Celsius. pic.twitter.com/JystC2mY6O
— Met Éireann (@MetEireann) 4 March 2019
As for this evening, showers will become "confined to Atlantic coastal counties" while many places will be dry and clear later in the evening.
Temperatures of 1C to 3C are expected overnight with frost in places.
However, the next few days will be milder and cloudy with temperatures rising to 9C tomorrow.
Meanwhile, Alan O'Reilly of Carlow Weather warned that roads and paths would be very icy this morning.
Ranging from 1c to 8c on the 7am update from @MetEireann with rain pushing in from the west. Road temps remain below 0c in some areas with icy roads. This photo of a crash was taken near Arles in Laois this morning. Take it easy out there. pic.twitter.com/JH3glXsnEq
— Carlow Weather (@CarlowWeather) 4 March 2019
He tweeted: "Risk of very icy conditions on roads and paths tomorrow with drivers, pedestrians and cyclists facing facing very tricky conditions early tomorrow morning!"
The meteorologist also predicted another cold snap may be on the way, adding: "A cold night ahead and a cool day tomorrow but milder Tuesday with heavy rain Tuesday night and then cooler for rest of week.
"In the longer term weather models persisting in showing another cold snap around 10th/11th but over a week away so we’ll have to wait and see."
Atlantic Charts for the next seven days. The national outlook is available at https://t.co/9gKN6SVok4 pic.twitter.com/ITtKzoD3sI
— Met Éireann (@MetEireann) 4 March 2019
