Status Orange low temperature weather warning in effect for today

It's still very cold out there.

Met Éireann have issued two status orange weather warnings for low temperature and ice today, with temperatures dipping to below -5 degrees. The first weather warning for low temperature and severe ice and frost came into effect yesterday evening at 6pm, and it will remain in place until 12pm today. The implicated counties are Carlow, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois, Longford, Louth, Meath, Offaly, Westmeath, Cavan, Monaghan, Clare, Cork, Kerry, Limerick, Tipperary, Galway, Leitrim and Roscommon. The second weather warning - for low temperature and ice - will come into effect at 6pm today, and this is in place for Leinster, Cavan, Monaghan, Munster and Connacht. Met Éireann warns: "Extremely cold on Thursday night with temperatures below -5 degrees expected widely, leading to severe frost and ice." This weather warning expires at noon, tomorrow Friday 16 December. Meanwhile, a status yellow weather warning for the entire country has been in place since Saturday, and will remain valid until noon tomorrow. It reads: "Remaining very cold through the week with widespread sharp to severe frosts and icy stretches. "Some showers of hail, sleet and snow will occur, mainly near coasts. Accumulations at lower levels are expected to remain low. "Freezing fog will occur at times, with winds remaining light over land." Outlining the possible impacts of such cold weather and ice, Met Éireann warned the public to be cautious of treacherous conditions on paths and roads, travel disruption, potential supply disruption, potential for burst water pipes and damage to engines, increased risk to vulnerable members of the community, animal welfare issues and slack winds over land leading to reduced wind power generation. A yellow weather warning from the UK Met Office is in place for Antrim, Armagh, Down, Fermanagh, Tyrone and Derry. This warning relates to wintry showers and ice and it will expire today at 11pm.

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