Gardaí are advising motorists to drive with extreme care on the motorway as the cold snap sets in.
Five cars left the road on the M18 between Gort and Galway this morning following a heavy hail shower, and more wintry conditions are forecast for the coming days.
Emergency services were alerted around 10 o’clock this morning after five cars left the motorway within minutes of each other between junction 17 and 18.
Several units of Gardaí, Ambulance and the air ambulance were dispatched to the scene, though the helicopter was stood down a short time later.
There are no reports of any major injuries.
The scene has since been cleared and traffic has returned to normal, but Gardaí are urging people to slow down and drive with extreme care when heading out and about on the motorway during the cold snap.
It’s been a relatively mild winter so far, but from tonight, temperatures will fall to between minus one and minus two degrees.
Met Éireann says all areas of the country will be affected by the wintry conditions, which could continue into Thursday and Friday.
