'Beast from the East' Siberian blizzard about to give Ireland its worst snow storm in 36 years

Ireland is preparing for a Siberian freeze dubbed the "Beast from the East" according to leading experts.

Ireland could see snowfall to rival the debilitating 10-day blizzard the country experienced in January 1982. On that occasion, the Irish Army had to be called in as temperatures went as low as minus 3 degrees Fahrenheit. The storm was dubbed the "Big Snow"

Forecaster Cathal Nolan predicts similar heavy snow and snow drifts which could last over a week and lead to highly dangerous conditions.

It is believed that temperatures will plummet to 40 degrees Fahreneheit below normal. 

As conditions are set to get steadily worse, some experts believe the very rare status-red warnings could be imminent. Winds from Siberia and the North Pole will bring snow, sleet showers, and freezing conditions which could affect Ireland until mid-March.

Very cold air from #Siberia will gradually spread across #Europe and the #UK during the coming days. Factor in the wind and it will be feeling bitter for all of us pic.twitter.com/4HCfEnNdqb

— Met Office (@metoffice) February 23, 2018

Met Éireann forecaster Joanna Donnelly told the Irish Times that Irish people should not get complacent about the unusually warm weather the country is currently experiencing.

Weather warnings have been issued for Advisory.
The Map shows counties affected by these warnings. See https://t.co/sLGHpXxrhm for details. pic.twitter.com/IJ1MtwCDFc

— Met Éireann Warnings (@MetEire_Warning) February 25, 2018

From Tuesday, disruptive snow showers will hit Ireland, causing temperatures to drop to lows of -7 degrees celsius/19 degrees Fahrenheit. (For context: Temperatures for January and February, the coldest months for Ireland, usually fall between 4 - 7 °C /39.2 - 44.6 °F.)

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The National Emergency Coordination Group for Severe Weather will meet on Monday to discuss strategy. Meanwhile, Met Eireann has advised people to keep warm, eat well, avoid unnecessary travel, and check in on their elderly neighbors and relatives.

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