A Status Orange weather warning is in place for Laois as the county braces itself for scattered showers and “widespread frost and icy conditions”.
A snow-ice warning is in place for Laois, Dublin, Carlow, Kildare, Wicklow, Meath and Louth from Tuesday at 3pm until Wednesday at 11am.
“Scattered snow showers later Tuesday and Tuesday night will lead to accumulations of 4 to 6 cm by Wednesday morning,” say Met Eireann on their website.
“Exceptionally cold weather will occur this week. Air and ground temperatures will be 5 to 10 degrees below normal, with significant wind chill and penetrating severe frosts,” they add.
“Snow showers, mainly affecting eastern areas on Tuesday, will progressively become more widespread and heavier through midweek.
“A spell of persistent and heavy snow is expected to extend from the south late Thursday and Thursday night, with significant and disruptive accumulations.”
Met Eireann have three weather warning systems in place – Yellow, Orange and Red, with Red as the most serious.
Orange is defined as “weather conditions which have the capacity to impact significantly on people in the affected areas”.
“The issue of an Orange level weather warning implies that all recipients in the affected areas should prepare themselves in an appropriate way for the anticipated conditions.”
People are advised to check out the Winter Ready website.
A local weather expert, Cathal Nolan from the Midland Weather Channel has said there could be up 30cm of snow in some parts of Laois with a cold snap as severe as the winter of 2010.
He has also predicted that a number of local businesses and schools will be forced to close on Thursday and Friday.
