'Possibility' of temperatures dropping to -11C as orange warning comes into effect
At Weather Spell Icy On Grass Cold In The Co Robin Current A Cork, Farran Wood, Of The
Met Éireann has said temperatures are set to drop even further as the day progresses with the "possibility" -11C being seen "in one or two spots".
The comments come as the country braces for two status orange low temperature and ice warnings over the coming days.
The first warning, currently in place will run until midday on Thursday.
The low temperature/ice warning will impact counties Cork, Carlow, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois, Longford, Louth, Meath, Offaly, Westmeath, Cavan, Monaghan, Clare, Kerry, Limerick, Tipperary, Galway, Leitrim, and Roscommon.
The forecaster has issued a second status orange weather warning which will affect most of the country, that will come into effect from 6pm on Thursday and will remain until midday on Friday.
The warning will impact all of Munster, Leinster and Connacht as well as Monaghan and Cavan.
A status yellow low temperature and ice warning is in place for the whole country until 12pm on Friday.
Met Éireann has predicted temperatures will be “extremely cold on Wednesday night with widespread temperatures below -5C leading to severe frost and ice”.
Meteorologist Joanna Donnelly told on RTÉ Radio 1 that it is going to be much colder than that in isolated areas.
"I have a -11C showing up in my chart here. It went down to -7.5C in Mount Dillon last night. That was the lowest temperature there last night.
Widespread frost & icy conditions this morning. ⚠️
— Met Éireann (@MetEireann) December 14, 2022
It’ll be a mainly dry & sunny day, with isolated showers in the NW & N. ⛅️
Temps will remain below freezing this morning, reaching between 0°C & +1°C in the afternoon, slightly higher at coasts. 🌡️https://t.co/Xg3aMJlyuS pic.twitter.com/GjEAIojI53
"Typically, the temperatures last night were about -4C or -5C degrees. The thing is that it is not going to get much warmer than that today. Temperatures this morning aren't likely to rise above freezing for much of the country for much of the morning.”
Ms Donnelly said that the lowest ever temperature recorded in Ireland, -19.1C, dates back over hundred years to January 1881. The lowest recent temperatures date back to 2010 when there was a "really cold Christmas day of -17.5C in Mayo."
"But the 'Beast from the East' is probably the more familiar one that we can remember which was -9.7C on March 1 in 2018."
Met Éireann senior forecaster Gerry Murphy told there is a possibility of temperatures dropping as low as -11C "but that will be only in one or two spots". For the most part, temperatures overnight will be in the region of -5C and -10C.
Mr Murphy added that temperatures will gradually rise as the week goes on.
"At the moment we have daytime temperatures between 0C and 4C by Friday it will be up to between 2C and 6C. Saturday a little higher than that again. The proper mild weather comes in on Sunday. It will become noticeably milder on Sunday.
"Then however it becomes quite cold on Monday and Tuesday. But it will be a more typical cold. Not the same stagnant very cold air sitting over us."
Ms Donnelly said snow on Christmas Day cannot be ruled out. However, she stressed that our climate does not set us up for a white Christmas this year as it is generally too warm due to westerly airflow.
“We have no precipitation. You might remember the old folklore that it is 'too cold to snow.' Well, it is never too cold to snow if you have got precipitation. What generally happens in Ireland is that if you have really cold temperatures it is coming with an anti-cyclone — that is dry, clear nights.
"Without any moisture in the air, there is nothing to create snow."
Ms Donnelly, who has been working with the charity Alone, has urged members of the public to touch base with elderly friends and neighbours during the cold spell, calling it a “tricky time of year”.
“We really need to look out for people in cold temperatures. You don't even have to (reach out) personally. You can reach out to Alone too and they will take up the mantle.”
Consultant geriatrician at the Mater Hospital in Dublin Dr Colm Byrne has reported seeing a couple of cases of hypothermia in older people this winter often times because they cannot afford to heat their homes.
Dr Byrne told the same show that he has come across "some very sad cases".
"There has been a couple of cases that have come in of older people who have developed hypothermia in their own homes unfortunately due to their homes not being heated properly. They mightn't have the heating on. Or they may live alone and not realise [the need] to have it on."
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