There are fears that the winter storm expected this week could be worse than the heavy snow experienced in 2010.
The so called 'beast from the east' is bringing freezing temperatures - with the mercury expected to drop to -10 degrees on Wednesday night.
Be prepared!
The Government's Emergency Co-ordination Group for Severe Weather has met to discuss how to respond and will meet every day this week to monitor the situation.
Met Eireann has now issued a Orange weather alert for some counties.
Met Eireann's Pat Clarke says 'there's very cold weather heading our way from Siberia and Russia with eastern parts of the country bearing the brunt.'
'Temperatures will struggle to get past 1 degree on Wednesday with heavy snow showers from Tuesday'.
Very cold today. Frost clearing to leave a mix of cloud & bright or sunny spells. Generally dry, but some snow flurries are likely later today in eastern coastal counties. Top temps only 2 to 6°C, best in the southwest and feeling colder in moderate to fresh & gusty SE'ly winds. pic.twitter.com/3PDIFrsHwz
— Met Éireann (@MetEireann) February 26, 2018
The Housing Minister says a status red weather warning could be declared before the week is out.
Minister Eoghan Murphy also says there will be extra beds and rough sleeper teams checking on the most vulnerable.
Marks and Spencer has donated thermal clothing to charities helping out homeless people.
Inner City Helping Homeless has tweeted to say that the items will be available from 10 this morning at their offices on Amiens Street in Dublin.
People are being encouraged to tell rough sleepers they come across about the initiative.
@marksandspencer have kindly donated #ThermalWear to ensure that anyone person who is experiencing homelessness is kept warm. Thermal Clothing is available at our 72 Amiens Street Office from 10am tomorrow. If you see a rough sleeper point them in our direction.
— Anthony Flynn (@AnthonyICHH) February 25, 2018
Some background to snowfall in Ireland is to be found on our website at: https://t.co/LCoX4Kfxnn
— Met Éireann (@MetEireann) February 26, 2018
People are also being reminded that some rural roads will be treacherous this week.
Sean O'Neil from Transport Infrastructure Ireland says the national network will be prioritised and some rural and isolated roads may not be salted or ploughed.
Communities, households, businesses, farms, schools and individuals all need to be considering how we can improve our collective resilience in light of the advance severe weather warnings being given today https://t.co/rC4VBO5Dom pic.twitter.com/xMZA6hCR32
— OEP (@emergencyIE) February 26, 2018
