Garda isssue appeal to motorists as snow and ice forecast

The gardaI in Mullingar have issued an appeal to motorists to take great care on the roads as the country is bracing itself for a particularly harsh piece of winter weather. 

 A Status Orange warning is in place for some counties, including Westmeath, advising that ice and snow are a strong possibility and through tomorrow.

Already a number of minor accidents have occurred with motorists experiencing particular difficulty on a stretch of the M6 between Rochfortbridge and Kinnegad. Gardaí also contacted Westmeath County Council to have the Killucan to Kinnegad road gritted.

Forecasters at Met Éireann are warning of a cold air mass from Canada which is to bring snow showers over the next two days.

Met Éireann warns that in the west and north snow will accumulate over hills, with several centimetres of snow also likely at low levels.
It says slight accumulations are possible elsewhere, along with icy patches.

However, there is some good news as a milder spell of weather is expected to move from midweek onwards