Severe frost and dangerous road conditions persist nationwide

Drivers advised to take care as lowest temperature of -6 degrees recorded in Mullingar

Sheep pictured on frosty ground in Kilkenny this morning after overnight temperatures dropped to below minus six degrees. Photograph: Suzanna Crampton/Twitter/@zwartblesie
Sheep pictured on frosty ground in Kilkenny this morning after overnight temperatures dropped to below minus six degrees. Photograph: Suzanna Crampton/Twitter/@zwartblesie

Road temperatures have dropped to well below zero in parts of the country on Monday morning, with widespread severe frost and icy stretches making driving conditions difficult.

Particular care is advised in counties Monaghan, Longford, Westmeath, Meath and Offaly according to AA Roadwatch, who also warn of black ice around Sligo town and dense fog around The Curragh in Kildare and in Kilkenny City.

The lowest temperature of the winter was recorded on Sunday night, with Met Éireann reporting a low of minus 6.3 degrees in Mullingar.

Gardaí have warned of icy road conditions and severe frost nationwide and particularly in parts of Cork, pictured here on Monday morning. Photograph: An Garda Síochána.
Gardaí have warned of icy road conditions and severe frost nationwide and particularly in parts of Cork, pictured here on Monday morning. Photograph: An Garda Síochána.

AA Roadwatch said that road temperatures have fallen to below minus 7 degrees in some places.

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They have also reminded drivers that stopping distances are 10 times longer in the ice, and that main roads are most likely to be treated first.

A status yellow weather warning has been in effect since Sunday, but is due to be lifted at 10am on Monday with temperatures set to steadily rise to between 5 and 7 degrees throughout the day.

Niamh Towey

Niamh Towey

Niamh Towey is an Irish Times journalist