Kilkenny braced for freezing rain, snow and black ice as Troll of Trondheim weather set to bite

The weather front that's been nicknamed the troll of Trondheim looks set to have a hazardous impact with the possibility of an freezing rain, black ice and snow in forecast for Kilkenny from Met Éireann.

The forecaster his issued Status Yellow weather warnings for all counties from Thursday and Friday saying that both days will be hazardous. Thursday looks set to have the biggest impact with two Status Yellow warnings issued.

Works on notorious road in Kilkenny to begin next month

The first of these alerts is an Ice Warning. It says a band of wintry precipitation will sink southwards with the potential for black ice/freezing rain on surfaces.  It is valid from midnight Thursday to  noon on Thursday.

The Met Office in the UK, Met Éireann's forecasting partner, says such conditions are akin to an ice storm which is characterised by freezing rain which is rare in Ireland but common in the USA, where weather systems produce a lot of freezing rain. These are called ice storms which can bring down trees and powerlines.

The Met Office says that when freezing rain hits the ground it can turns roads and pathways into an ice rink. 

The second Yellow alert is a Low Temperature/Ice warning which says there will be sharp to severe frost with icy surfaces, as temperatures widely fall to - 4 degrees Celsius.

Over 90 new nursing home beds on way for one Kilkenny town

John McGuinness: Construction to begin before Christmas

Met Éireann's general forecast for Thursday says it will be an icy start on Thursday will feature patches of freezing fog in places. This will be followed by the band of wintry showers over Ulster which will track southwards over the country. Some accumulations of snow are possible, especially in Midland counties and over high ground leading to hazardous travel conditions. Sunny spells and scattered wintry showers will follow. Maximum temperatures of just 0 to +3 degrees in light north or variable winds.

Thursday night will feature a severe frost turning icy in places. Met Éireann also says there will be some wintry showers in Atlantic coastal counties of Connacht and Ulster and also for a time in parts of east Leinster. A covering of snow is possible where showers occur. Lowest temperatures of -5 to -2 degrees in a light northerly breeze. Patches of freezing fog developing also.

Friday will also be very cold and hazardous with a Status Yellow Low Temperature/Ice warning issued for all of Ireland.

Met Éireann says there will be sharp to severe frost with icy surfaces, as temperatures widely fall to - 4 degrees Celsius.  it is valid from 10pm on Thursday to 10am on Friday.

New scam text circulating in Kilkenny

In its general forecast Met Éireann says Friday will begin very cold with icy stretches, some lying snow and patches of freezing fog. However, it adds that much of the country will be dry with sunshine developing. Wintry showers will affect some Atlantic coastal counties, possibly heavy or thundery near the coast.

Maximum temperatures are expected to range from 0 to +3 degrees in light northwest or variable winds. The forecaster says Friday will be another very cold night on Friday night with a widespread sharp to severe frost and some icy stretches.

While many areas will be dry, showers will affect Atlantic coastal counties at times, many of hail and snow, but falling as rain near the coast. Lowest temperatures of -5 to zero degrees in light west or variable winds. MORE BELOW TWEET.

⚠️A very cold week is forecast bringing severe frosts, icy stretches, and black ice on roads.
❄️ Showers of hail, sleet, and snow are forecast during the second half of the week.
Don’t get caught out when severe weather strikes. #VisionZerohttps://t.co/nBFXVFhJYD pic.twitter.com/y4kUErsvEz

— RSA Ireland (@RSAIreland) December 5, 2022

No further warnings have been issued for the weekend but a Winter Weather Advisory for Ireland caused by a northerly artic airmass is in force until 9 am Monday, December 12.

ALERT: Meat product recalled due to presence of serious toxin - Kilkenny Live

In its general forecast, Met Éireann says Saturday will also be a very cold day with frost and ice lingering through much of the day along with some patches of freezing fog. While it will be dry for many, a few wintry showers will occur. Highest temperatures will go no higher than +3 degrees in light, variable winds. More widespread frost and ice is on the cards for Saturday night which while mostly dry will feature some freezing fog. Lowest temperatures are expected to dip to -5 degrees.

The forecaster says temperatures  will struggle to rise above freezing for most on Sunday with frost, ice and freezing fog persisting throughout the day. While it will again be mainly dry, there could be isolated showers on coasts. Highest temperatures of -2 to +2 degrees in light, variable winds. There will be widespread frost and ice overnight with lows ranging from -6 to -2 degrees. The night will be largely dry apart from isolated wintry showers.

Beyond that Met Éireann says it looks set to stay very cold on Monday, but thereafter there is lots of uncertainty in the forecast.