Ireland’s national meteorological service, Met Éireann, sounded the alarm early on 29 December after its latest models showed an Arctic air mass pushing south over the country. The forecaster is warning of “frequent and possibly disruptive” snow showers in the capital and along the east coast from late New-Year’s-Eve through 3 January, with overnight lows that could dip to –10 °C in rural areas. While the northwest is expected to take the first hit, Dublin, Wicklow and Wexford are now on the watch-list for so-called “sea-effect” snow as cold, dry air moves across the relatively warm Irish Sea.
For corporate mobility managers the timing could hardly be worse. The January return-to-work period traditionally produces a spike in international arrivals, and Dublin Airport had been forecasting more than 115,000 passengers a day over the coming weekend. Airport operator DAA told Global Mobility News it has already activated its Winter Operations Plan, which includes 100 tonnes of runway de-icing fluid on standby and extra staff for 24-hour snow-clearance shifts. However, DAA conceded that “significant schedule reductions” may be necessary if predicted snowfall exceeds three centimetres per hour.
In situations where itineraries may suddenly shift because of airport closures or flight rerouting, VisaHQ can provide a safety net by expediting any supplementary visas or travel documents employees might require. Its dedicated Ireland page (https://www.visahq.com/ireland/) offers real-time requirement checks, application tracking, and courier options—services that remain accessible even when embassies or consulates reduce hours during severe weather events.
![Met Éireann issues heavy-snow alert for Dublin as Arctic front threatens travel chaos]()
Road transport is likely to face similar strain. Ireland’s National Emergency Coordination Group (NECG) will meet this evening to decide whether to pre-emptively close sections of the M50 and other key arteries around the capital. Employers with inbound assignees are being advised to arrange hotel accommodation in walking distance of offices or to prepare for mandatory remote work days. Many global companies learned from Storm Emma in 2018 that hotel rooms can sell out in minutes once a Status Red warning is issued.
The cold snap also raises duty-of-care issues for field-based staff and construction crews. Multinationals running data-centre or life-science projects around Dublin’s suburban ring have begun issuing “pause-work” notices once temperatures fall below –4 °C, citing health-and-safety regulations. HR teams are reminding expatriates to register for **gov.ie** severe-weather SMS alerts—particularly newcomers who may be unfamiliar with Ireland’s colour-coded warning system.
Looking ahead, Met Éireann says conditions should moderate after 6 January, but it is asking businesses to plan for at least a week of potential disruption. If heavy snowfall materialises, expect widespread flight cancellations, longer immigration-queue times as staff struggle to get to work, and possible delivery delays for biometric residence permits sent by post. Mobility teams should keep relocation partners and travelling employees on standby for rapid itinerary changes.
For corporate mobility managers the timing could hardly be worse. The January return-to-work period traditionally produces a spike in international arrivals, and Dublin Airport had been forecasting more than 115,000 passengers a day over the coming weekend. Airport operator DAA told Global Mobility News it has already activated its Winter Operations Plan, which includes 100 tonnes of runway de-icing fluid on standby and extra staff for 24-hour snow-clearance shifts. However, DAA conceded that “significant schedule reductions” may be necessary if predicted snowfall exceeds three centimetres per hour.
In situations where itineraries may suddenly shift because of airport closures or flight rerouting, VisaHQ can provide a safety net by expediting any supplementary visas or travel documents employees might require. Its dedicated Ireland page (https://www.visahq.com/ireland/) offers real-time requirement checks, application tracking, and courier options—services that remain accessible even when embassies or consulates reduce hours during severe weather events.
Road transport is likely to face similar strain. Ireland’s National Emergency Coordination Group (NECG) will meet this evening to decide whether to pre-emptively close sections of the M50 and other key arteries around the capital. Employers with inbound assignees are being advised to arrange hotel accommodation in walking distance of offices or to prepare for mandatory remote work days. Many global companies learned from Storm Emma in 2018 that hotel rooms can sell out in minutes once a Status Red warning is issued.
The cold snap also raises duty-of-care issues for field-based staff and construction crews. Multinationals running data-centre or life-science projects around Dublin’s suburban ring have begun issuing “pause-work” notices once temperatures fall below –4 °C, citing health-and-safety regulations. HR teams are reminding expatriates to register for **gov.ie** severe-weather SMS alerts—particularly newcomers who may be unfamiliar with Ireland’s colour-coded warning system.
Looking ahead, Met Éireann says conditions should moderate after 6 January, but it is asking businesses to plan for at least a week of potential disruption. If heavy snowfall materialises, expect widespread flight cancellations, longer immigration-queue times as staff struggle to get to work, and possible delivery delays for biometric residence permits sent by post. Mobility teams should keep relocation partners and travelling employees on standby for rapid itinerary changes.
