ALERT: Met Éireann issues fresh Status Orange weather warning for 13 counties, including Longford

Met Éireann has issued a new Status Orange weather warning has been issued for Carlow, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois, Longford, Meath, Offaly, Westmeath, Cavan, Monaghan, Galway, Roscommon and Tipperary.

The national forecaster has issued the warning for low temperature and ice, warning that it will be "extremely cold" with widespread severe frost and ice, along with lying snow in some areas. They also warned of patches of freezing fog.

The warning will come into effect at 7pm tonight and will remain in place until 8am on Friday morning. 

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Met Éireann has warned of dangerous travelling conditions on roads and underfoot, potential travel disruption and delays, animal welfare issues, and poor visibility. 

A Status Orange alert for low temperatures and ice, which began at 6pm on Wednesday, set to expire at 11am this morning. Dangerous travel conditions and potential disruptions are expected as the freezing weather continues.

Other parts of Ireland also recorded sub-zero temperatures, including -7C in Athenry, Co Galway and -6.7C in Oak Park, Co Carlow highlighting the widespread nature of the country's big freeze.

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A Status Yellow warning for low temperatures and ice remains in place until midday on Friday for all counties except Donegal, with very cold conditions, widespread frost, ice and lying snow forecast.

Thursday night is set to be very cold and dry with frost setting in early. Cloud will push in from the south later with outbreaks of rain across Munster and winds staying light. Met Eireann says it will be "bitterly cold", with lowest temperatures of -7 to -2 degrees, with the lowest temperatures occurring early in the night. Frost, ice and black ice patches are expected, they warned. 

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Friday will start cloudy with rain spreading from the southwest early in the morning, before turning to sleet and snow along high ground across Munster and Connacht. It will stay largely dry across Leinster and Ulster, with the highest temperatures of 1 to 5 degrees.