Kilkenny motorists urged to drive with caution as Storm Freya wrecks havoc

KILKENNY motorists are being urged to drive with caution this morning after yesterday’s snow blizzards caught many drivers unawares.

Storm Freya caused traffic chaos in many parts of the country, leaving many motorists stranded.

And forecasters have warned that conditions will remain treacherous this morning.

Alan O’Reilly of Carlow Weather warned roads and paths will be very icy this morning.

He tweeted last night: “Risk of very icy conditions on roads and paths tomorrow with drivers, pedestrians and cyclists facing very tricky conditions early tomorrow morning!”

O’Reilly also predicts another cold snap may be on the way. “A cold night ahead and a cool day tomorrow but milder Tuesday with heavy rain Tuesday night and then cooler for rest of week.”

A yellow weather warning was issued by Met Éireann yesterday morning for Kilkenny and the rest of Leinster, Munster, Leinster, Cavan, Monaghan, Galway and Roscommon.

The Status Yellow snow-ice warning was put in place from 4pm, and was later extended to the entire country from 7pm until 8am this morning.

A spokesperson for Met Éireann said weather warnings were in place for rainfall as a result of Storm Freya, and that a drop in temperatures resulted in the subsequent snow-ice warning.

Snow was originally forecast for areas of high ground above 200 metres. However it also fell in many low-lying areas, taking motorists by surprise.

Shortly before 6pm gardaí issued a traffic alert and advised people to exercise caution and reduce their speed in affected areas.

However, by that stage heavy snowfall on the M7 near Naas had already brought traffic almost to a standstill. One car caught fire on the hard shoulder late last night, adding to delays, but no one was hurt.

Met Éireann warned it will be a very cold and wet day throughout Kilkenny and Leinster.

The national forecaster said: “It’s a frosty, icy start with some snow lying and also some mist and fog especially in southern areas. The frost, ice and fog will clear gradually and many places will be bright with sunny spells.

“However some rain and hail showers will develop later in the morning and early afternoon, some of these will be heavy or of hail and possibly some wintry on hills. Afternoon temperatures of 6 or 7 degrees Celsius in moderate west to southwest winds.”