Status Yellow fog warning issued as cold snap concludes

Met Éireann has issued a Status Yellow fog warning for the entire country as the cold snap gripping the country for the past week comes to an end.

The warning comes into effect at 6pm this evening and will last until 9am tomorrow morning.

The forecaster said foggy conditions will lead to impaired visibility.

With temperatures forecast to rise this weekend, the public is being warned of dangers associated with the ensuing thaw, including burst pipes and localised flooding.

Met Éireann has forecast gradual snow melt throughout the day which it said could lead to localised flooding.

It is forecasting temperatures of up to 8C today with highs of 11C expected tomorrow as the cold snap concludes.

Earlier this week, Status Orange and Yellow warnings for snow, ice and low temperatures were in effect as frosty conditions caused disruption and large snow accumulations in many parts of the country.

Snow and ice clearing operations are ongoing with local authorities continuing to deploy resources to facilitate access to areas cut off by heavy snow.

Uisce Éireann, meanwhile, has warned of possible further disruption to supplies.

It said that as frozen pipes begin to thaw, there is an increased risk of bursts and leaks.

The water service said its crews will remain on standby ready to maintain and restore water supplies for customers across the country.

Read more: How to tackle thaw as cold snap set to come to an end

Motorists and pedestrians are being advised that some roads and footpaths may still be hazardous following this week's snow and ice.

The RSA advised road users to be vigilant of snow and ice lingering in sheltered spots and on bends and corners.

It urged motorists to slow down, expect the unexpected and allow extra distance when passing pedestrians, cyclists, and motorcyclists due to risks posed by thawing ice and slush building up at roadsides.

Grit residue that remains on roads may also lead to cars skidding, particularly on bends and in the middle of roads where grit tends to build up.

Electricity and water supplies have now largely been restored to impacted households and businesses across the country after a week of widespread outages.