Warning of ‘extremely dangerous’ icy roads after snow

Motorists should take care amid "extremely dangerous" roads across the country tonight due to widespread icy conditions, AA Roadwatch said.

Met Eirean has forecast icy stretches in many areas with lowest temperatures of -2 degrees .

Many county councils have sent gritters out on the roads tonight after snowfalls in many areas, including in Donegal and Dublin.

While snow warnings are coming to an end, Met Eireann has forecast a storm and issued an orange level wind warning for gusts of up to 130km.h/ The forecast for Wexford, Galway, Clare, Cork, Kerry, Limerick and Waterford predicts winds of 70km/h to 80km/h tomorrow.

Earlier today, snow impacted some evening commuters after falls in several parts of the country including Dublin, Wicklow Sligo, Mayo, Galway, Laois, Longford and parts of Cork.

In Co Donegal a lorry was stuck on the road outside Ballybofey was causing delays this evening, acccording to a tweet by Donegal County Council. The council urged motorists to “slow down and take care”.

Snow on the the M50 at the M11 and on the N11/Stillorgan road resulted in traffic slowing and poor visibility, AA Roadwatch said.

In Co Wicklow conditions were “extremely dangerous” on the N81/Blessington Road at Russborough House, AA Roadwatch said. There were also poor driving conditions on the Kilmacanogue/Roundwood Rd, it said.

Met Éireann had issued a snow-ice warning for Donegal and wind warning for Wexford, Galway, Clare, Cork, Kerry, Limerick and Waterford. This came to an end at 9pm.

Met Éireann added it expected “wet” snow that won’t stick on the ground for long .

It said showers would become isolated after dark as temperatures fall close to zero and frost returns, “together with a renewed risk of icy roads”.

It has reported slippery conditions in Limerick city following earlier hail showers and “intermittent” snow showers in parts of Cork, particularly Bandon and Ballinhassig.

Park Road in Mallow is likely to remain closed until at least this Friday due to flooding, the organisation said.

Irish Rail is reporting that bus transfers are in operation between Limerick and Ennis due to flooding on the rail line. "These bus transfers are expected to continue to operate for a number of days," the company said. According to Irish Rail, the line will remain closed for approximately six weeks.