Residents across West Cork are being urged to exercise caution as Met Éireann issues a Status Yellow weather warning for snow and ice, with Storm Goretti set to bring hazardous conditions to the region tomorrow.

The warning covers Cork, Kerry, Waterford, and Wexford.

What to Expect

The warning is scheduled to come into effect at 12:00 PM on Thursday, January 8th, and will remain in place until 8:00 PM that evening.

While the day may start with heavy rain, temperatures are expected to plummet by early afternoon.

Met Éireann warns that as the storm moves across the southwest, rain will turn to sleet and snow.

Local Impacts

Authorities are warning of several potential impacts across the West Cork region:

Hazardous Travelling Conditions: The combination of slush, settling snow, and freezing temperatures is expected to make roads treacherous, especially on secondary routes and coastal climbs.

Spot Flooding: Before the transition to snow, heavy rainfall may lead to localised flooding.

Poor Visibility: Heavy bursts of sleet and snow during the afternoon commute will significantly reduce visibility for motorists.

Icy Patches: As the sun sets and the warning nears its expiry at 8:00 PM, wet surfaces are expected to freeze, leading to dangerous black ice.