Met Éireann considers stronger weather warnings as temperatures set to plummet to -8

New weather warnings are being considered for Ireland as an “extremely cold” snap continues across the country with temperatures expected to plummet to as low as -8C.

A Status Yellow low temperature and ice warning is still in place for the entire country until the end of Thursday.

Met Éireann issued the advisory, warning that there will be very cold nights with widespread frost, ice and lying snow.

The ESB has said 10,000 of its customers were without power by 7am on Tuesday.

Temperatures are expected to “struggle” to get above freezing during the day with transport disruption and hazardous travelling conditions.

A separate Yellow level warning for snow and ice for the entire country was due to expire at noon on Tuesday.

However, Met Éireann forecaster Andrew Doran-Sherlock said it was “quite likely” the agency will announce an Orange level warning for some regions on Tuesday.

Tuesday is set to have the highest temperatures of just 0 to 5 degrees.

READ NEXT: 'Community spirit is alive and well' as parish rallies together to clear snow for funeral

Mr Doran-Sherlock said it will be “bitterly cold” overnight into Wednesday, adding that a few wintry showers will affect parts of the north and west.

The lowest temperatures are expected to be -8C to -3C degrees generally, although it could dip even lower in some regions, with a severe frost and icy stretches.

A man clears snow from the pathway in the village of Ballylynan in County Laois

There is also the risk of freezing fog developing over the coming days.

Temperatures are predicted to increase through Thursday night and Friday as rain, sleet and snow moves north-eastwards over the country, becoming milder for the weekend.

The cold snap had seen tens of thousands of people without water and electricity, with crews continue to work to restore access to the services for the remaining affected homes and businesses on Tuesday.

The severe weather also prompted the HSE to cancel non-urgent appointments in the south-west of the country.

The Irish Defence Forces were deployed on Monday to assist with transporting patients and essential healthcare workers amid hazardous conditions.

Some public transport services have been curtailed and cancelled while schools in the worst-affected parts of the country also took the decision to close, with the situation being assessed on a morning-by-morning basis.

A Status Yellow snow-and-ice warning was put in place for Northern Ireland by the UK Met Office, expiring at 11am.