If you must go out today, make sure you are home with your door closed by 4pm.
That is the message from the government ahead of the second stage of this weather event which is set to wreak havoc upon us.
Late last night, Met Eireann upgraded their weather warning to a Red Alert to cover all of Ireland.
Met Éireann says Status Red level warnings are only issued in rare cases of severe weather.
This implies that recipients take action to protect themselves and/or their properties.
The National Emergency Co-Ordination Group for Severe Weather has asked the public to stay indoors from 4pm today until noon on Friday and to monitor further updates from Met Éireann.
Storm Emma is due to move from the south to meet polar air from the east, the combined effect of which will bring heavy snowfall and winds of up to 100km/h.
Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said: “Having considered this serious warning, the National Emergency Co-ordination Group has advised that people should not venture out of doors while the red-level warning is in place.
“Employers should assess whether it’s safe or even necessary for them to open and whether it is safe for their staff to travel to and from work.
“We have not experienced blizzard-like conditions like this since 1982. But the reports from that time remind us of the serious and life threatening conditions that can be posed by heavy snow and strong winds when they come together.”
Alan O’Reilly, of Carlow Weather, predicts that it could be late on Friday before it stops snowing.
He said: “People are waking up this morning to similar conditions as they did yesterday and then obviously the main event will happen in the afternoon.
“It looks like there could be 12 hours of extended snowfall so it could be Friday afternoon before we see the end of the heavy snow and strong winds that will bring blizzard like conditions.”
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