Weather warnings issued for 11 counties as snow and rain hit

Met Éireann issued weather warnings for many parts of the country on Wednesday evening

The national forecaster said there will be a combination of high winds, snow and ice forecast overnight with the risk of coastal flooding during Thursday.

“There will be scattered wintry showers continuing tonight with a risk of hail and isolated thunderstorms, but turning dry in many eastern parts later,” they said. “Icy stretches likely with some local accumulations of sleet and snow, especially on high ground.

Showers are predicted to turn “wintry” with a mix of sleet, snow and hail, seeing icy conditions.

“It will be a cold and blustery night with strong to gale force winds developing towards morning. Lowest temperatures will be -2 to +2 degrees with frost in sheltered areas.”

Cold, blustery and very showery this evening with a risk of hail and thunder. The showers will turn increasingly wintry with some snow on higher ground. Scattered wintry showers continuing tonight but turning dry in many eastern parts later. pic.twitter.com/3ybERz1ymh

— Met Éireann (@MetEireann) March 11, 2020

Status Orange & Yellow

A Status Orange wind warning was issued for Donegal and will take effect from 8am Thursday morning.

The wind warning will be in effect until 12 noon on Thursday as wind speeds of 60 to 75km/hr and gusts of 100 to 120km/hr are set to hit the county.

A status yellow snow/ice warning has also been issued for the county. It came into effect at 3pm on Wednesday and is valid until 8am on Thursday.

Thursday

Thursday will see stormy conditions over parts of Donegal in the morning and the risk of coastal flooding. “Showers in the west initially will become widespread during the day. There will be some wintry falls possible, mainly of sleet, and there will be a risk of hail and isolated thunderstorms.”

It will remain unsettled for the remainder of the week.

Main photograph: Unsplash