School Closures Continue In The Midlands Amid Status Orange Weather Warning

Public transport is also being impacted.

Schools closures will continue into tomorrow across the midlands. 

Schools in Portlaoise will largely be remaining shut for another day, including St Mary's CBS, Portlaoise College and the Holy Family Senior School. 

Local Link bus services across Laois and Offaly continue to be impacted with many being cancelled or seeing delayed starts. 

Meanwhile, some places are beginning to open the doors, with the LOETB in Birr reopen tomorrow for students.

Met Eireann is upgrading the Midlands to a Status Orange low temperature and ice warning.

It affects Laois, Offaly, Westmeath Carlow, Kildare, Kilkenny, Longford, Meath, Wicklow, Cavan and Monaghan- and all of Munster and Connacht.

It comes into effect at 8pm this evening until 10am tomorrow morning.

Extreme cold can be expected tonight with widespread severe frost, ice and lying snow.

Motorists and pedestrians will face dangerous travelling conditions.

Delays and disruption to travel are expected, with Met Éireann also warning of issues to animal welfare.

Very cold conditions with widespread frost, ice and lying snow can be expected across the midlands until Friday.

Today is set to be another very bitterly cold day with scattered wintry showers.

Temperatures could drop as low as minus eight degrees tonight and tomorrow night with temperatures not rising above freezing in some areas.

-10 degrees is even a possibility.

It means any ice or snow will be slow to thaw until the end of the week posing treacherous conditions.

This means the weather would be viewed as dangerous and could pose a threat to life and property. Some schools are remaining shut today because of the cold weather – most notably in the Midlands and Munster.

While 10,000 thousand people remain without power in Tipperary, Kerry and Limerick.

Rhode's Cathal Nolan from Ireland's Weather Channel says it should be mostly dry, bright and cold today:

ESB Networks Regional Manager Brian Tapley, says power has been restored to some 50 thousand properties since Sunday night, however access is proving to be a problem:

Helen owns Franelles Show Shop in Bagenalstown in Carlow, and says it’s been a tough few days for business:

Ronan owns the Little Shop also in Bagenalstown, and has been trying to clear ice off the footpaths in the village this afternoon:

Forecaster with Met Éireann Rebecca Cantwell says the cold weather will last until the end of the week at least.