Ireland weather latest: Met Eireann warns of 'dangerous' conditions as freezing fog clings on

Met Eireann has warned that icy stretches across Ireland will cause "dangerous" driving conditions in parts of Ireland this morning.

The national forecaster says patches of fog – which blanketed the country yesterday – will linger today, with icy stretches posing a motoring risk as freezing conditions persist.

Drivers are being warned to take care, hours after a Status Yellow fog warning was extended across the country until 1pm today.

With the fog slow to lift, temperatures are set to stay around the freezing mark, with highest afternoon temperatures of between one and four degrees.

We will see some sunshine this afternoon, a Met Eireann forecaster predicted, with clear spells in parts of the country.

A view of the thick fog at Punchestown (©INPHO/Lorraine O’Sullivan)

It comes after Punchestown racing was abandoned yesterday due to poor visibility.

Meanwhile, tonight will see temperatures plunge into the icy depths once again, with temperatures to hit minus three at their coldest.

Frost and icy patches will form if there are any clear spells, with a moderate wind to form.

Meanwhile, motorists are urged to take the following precautions this morning amid the fog and ice:

• Use your dipped headlights at all times plus your windscreen wipers and demisters.
• Familiarize yourself with your front and rear fog lights. Know how to switch them on and off and use them only when appropriate.
• Beware of other drivers not using headlights.
• Only drive as fast as conditions allow and maintain a greater distance between you and the car in front. Tailing someone’s rear lights can give a false sense of security and is dangerous.
• If the road has street lights on you probably don’t need to use your fog lights.
• Be able to stop within your range of visibility. This is particularly important on motorways and dual carriageways where you’ll be travelling at speed.

A Met Eireann spokesperson said of today's conditions: "Lingering fog patches and icy stretches leading to dangerous driving conditions in some areas this morning.

"The fog will be slow to lift through the day but where it does clear, sunny spells will develop.

A view of tonight's foggy match conditions (©INPHO/Bryan Keane)

"Scattered showers in Ulster and along eastern coasts. Very cold again with afternoon high temperatures of just 1 to 4 degrees, coolest where fog lingers.

"Light northerly breeze becoming light to moderate northwesterly later, which will alleviate the fog."