Extreme caution urged on Offaly roads as severe weather warning remains in place

Motorists are being urged to take extreme caution on the roads this morning as a Status Orange Weather Warning for low temperatures and ice will remain in place until 10am. 

This will be followed by a status yellow warning which will again be upgraded to orange on Wednesday evening at 6pm and remain in place until 11am on Thursday, January 9.

"This morning will be bitterly cold across Leinster with widespread frost, ice and patches of freezing fog, all of which will persist in some areas all day," a Met Eireann spokesperson said.

"It will be dry with bright or sunny spells, the best of these in north Leinster. There will be a bit more cloud further south. Highest temperatures of -1 to +3 degrees with mostly light northerly breezes.

"Tonight will be extremely cold and largely dry. A few wintry showers will affect parts of the north and west. There will be severe frost, ice or black ice and patches of freezing fog. Lowest temperatures of -7 to -2 degrees with light variable breezes.

"Thursday morning be bitterly cold with widespread frost, ice and some freezing fog, lingering throughout the day in many areas. It will be dry with sunny spells. Highest temperatures of -1 to +4 degrees with light variable breezes."