Snow warning issued for entire country but will schools close?

“Accumulations of snow are expected in many areas along with icy conditions.”

Met Éireann has issued several fresh weather warnings, including a Status Yellow snow-ice alert for all of Ireland.

This snow warning will take effect from 3 am to 11 pm on Thursday, March 9th, and says that rain, sleet, and snow will spread northwards across the country on Wednesday night and Thursday, accompanied by strengthening easterly winds.

“Accumulations of snow are expected in many areas along with icy conditions. Sleet and snow will likely transition to rain in southern areas for a time,” it also reads, with possible impacts listed including hazardous driving conditions, travel disruption and poor visibility.

Status Yellow Snow-Ice warning for Ireland🥶❄️

Possible Impacts:

Hazardous driving conditions🚗
Travel disruption
Poor Visibility🌫️

Valid 03:00 Thursday 09/03/2023 to 23:00 Thursday 09/03/2023 ⤵️https://t.co/l8JdKfwZt9 pic.twitter.com/Sah6Onq9Ye

— Met Éireann (@MetEireann) March 8, 2023

On top of this, a separate Status Yellow snow-ice warning for the province of Leinster and the counties Cavan and Monaghan has been published and will take effect from 11pm on Thursday to 7am on Friday.

“Sleet and snow slowly clearing eastwards on Thursday night and early on Friday with further accumulations of snow expected,” it states.

Status Yellow – Snow-Ice warning for Leinster, Cavan, Monaghan

Possible Impacts:
● Hazardous driving conditions
● Travel disruption
● Poor Visibility

Valid: 23:00 Thursday 09/03/2023 to 07:00 Friday 10/03/2023⤵️https://t.co/l8JdKfwZt9 pic.twitter.com/OhRDaXJhLw

— Met Éireann (@MetEireann) March 8, 2023

Met Éireann has also issued a Status Yellow low temperature and ice warning for the entire country from 9pm on Thursday to 10am on Friday over expected “widespread icy stretches”.

Status Yellow – Low Temperature/Ice warning for Ireland

Widespread icy stretches on Thursday night and Friday morning

Possible Impacts:
● Hazardous driving conditions
● Travel disruption

Valid: 21:00 Thursday 09/03/2023 to 10:00 Friday 10/03/2023⤵️https://t.co/l8JdKfwZt9 pic.twitter.com/N5xmojGOWx

— Met Éireann (@MetEireann) March 8, 2023

The Irish meteorological service’s forecast says temperatures will fall to as low as -2 degrees on Wednesday night and -4 degrees on Thursday night.

Parents are now concerned that schools will close due to the hazardous conditions, but the Department of Education has yet to issue any update on school closures.

For now, they will open as normal unless conditions worsen.