Here is the latest on Ireland's cold snap:
- An orange-level warning is now in effect for every county in the Republic except Donegal, and will remain in place until 11am on Thursday.
- Met Éireann is warning temperatures could drop to as low as minus 8 degrees in parts of the country tonight.
- The ESB said 4,000 homes, farms and businesses are still without power.
- Uisce Éireann is continuing to work to restore water to customers in the worst-affected regions – Cork, Kerry, Limerick and Tipperary.
Work is continuing to restore power and water to thousands of households as the country grapples with a prolonged cold snap.
Travel conditions in some parts remain hazardous and people are being warned to be aware of icy paths and roads.
People left without power have been told by the ESB they can use facilities in nearby hotels on Wednesday and Thursday as crews work to restore electricity to thousands of households.
Around 4,000 people are still without power while 4,500 are without water, though more sub-zero conditions overnight are expected to cause more disruption.
Tánaiste Micheál Martin said Munster and parts of Leinster had taken “a big hit” during the cold snap.
“These are very challenging weather conditions and by definition they create difficulties,” he said, adding that they would evaluate the response to the significant weather warnings.
“We certainly will do everything we can to assist those who are still without water and without power.”
Temperatures are expected to plummet even further to around -8 degrees overnight into Thursday, before conditions begin to improve on Friday and into the weekend.
All of the Republic is on at least a yellow-level low temperature and ice warning until midday on Friday, but more severe alerts will also apply to the vast majority of the country.
Met Éireann said the extremely cold weather runs the risk of dangerous travelling conditions, transport delays and animal welfare issues.
At 6pm on Wednesday, an orange-level warning came into effect for every county except Donegal, and will remain in place until 11am on Thursday.
Met Éireann said Thursday would be “bitterly cold” with widespread frost, ice and patches of freezing fog.
Meanwhile, Uisce Éireann continued to work to restore water to customers in the worst-affected regions.
Tens of thousands of households and businesses had been cut off at the start of the cold snap.
The main locations affected are Cork, Kerry, Limerick and Tipperary.
Gardaí said they issued fines to 15 cars that were parked on the narrow roads around the Sally Gap in Co Wicklow.
“We understand that people want to take in the snowy scenery but please help us out and be responsible. The area is impassable so please avoid,” gardaí said in a social media post.
The National Emergency Co-ordination Group met on Wednesday morning to discuss the cross-department and agency response to sub-zero hazardous conditions.
The Dublin Region Homeless Executive has a free app and an online form which enables members of the public to alert them to any rough sleepers so that they can be offered a bed or other services.
National director of the National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management Keith Leonard said there has been “no let-up” in the bitterly cold weather.
“We are continuing to co-ordinate the responses by all agencies and local authorities to ensure the most appropriate responses and supports are happening at local level during these challenging conditions.
“Road and path surfaces will remain challenging throughout the country and I would urge drivers, cyclists and pedestrians to take extra caution if you have to set out on a journey.
“Remember, even where there is no lying snow, icy conditions will prevail and surfaces may look deceptively safe.
“I would like to thank all those members of the public who have been checking in on vulnerable neighbours during this cold spell.
“If anyone knows a neighbour who is elderly, alone or who has mobility issues, please keep an eye out for them and make sure they are OK.”
A yellow-level snow and ice warning was also announced for parts of Northern Ireland, with the UK Met Office advising of a risk of injuries from slips and falls on icy surfaces.
The warning for areas in counties Antrim, Fermanagh, Tyrone and Derry was issued for between 4pm on Wednesday and 11am on Thursday.
