MET ÉIREANN UPDATE: Heavy overnight showers to turn to sleet or snow today

KILKENNY and most parts of the country will be hit with “significant” levels of snow from early today, Met Éireann has forecast.

Temperatures dipped to below freezing in many parts of the county last night.

A status yellow warning for snow and ice remains in place for Kilkenny and the rest of the country until Saturday, with showers of hail, sleet and snow forecast.

There has been heavy rain showers throughout the county overnight and into this morning. However, Met Éireann this morning said these showers would turn to sleet or snow as the day progresses.

It said the snow is likely to be heaviest over much of south Leinster and Munster, with the forecaster warning of some “significant accumulations” in places.

Meteorologist Vincent O’Shea said the snow would be predominantly confined to higher ground, but there was a risk that some inland areas would also be affected.

“There will be heavy rain for many parts of the south, but it’s likely that it will turn to sleet or snow as the day progresses,” the forecaster said.

“We’re now concerned that there will be parts of Leinster and Munster especially that will have low levels of snow.”

The band of weather will clear southwards later in the evening, with overnight temperatures between -2C and -6C.

The Department of Education confirmed that a number of schools around the country closed yesterday. A spokesperson said it is up to each school to decide whether it needed to close due to the severity of the weather in their particular area.

Bus Éireann confirmed several routes were affected yesterday due to the weather and apologised to customers.

AA Roadwatch have warned drivers to take care on roads today. Road conditions are wet this morning in parts of Kilkenny, Waterford city, Cork city, and Tralee, while icy conditions have been reported on secondary routes around Thurles and Letterkenny.

Tomorrow is expected is be significantly drier with spells of sunshine. However, Met Éireann predicts tomorrow night will be “bitterly cold” as temperatures fall to -4C, with a severe frost and icy conditions.

Some sunny weather is expected on Saturday morning, but the frost and ice will return once again later that night.