As Cork faces into yet another status orange low temperature/ice warning, the plummeting mercury has prompted a local homelessness charity to speak out about the highest ever demand for their services.
Cork Simon's Paul Sheehan says the cold weather is heaping additional pressure for emergency beds on top of an already overstrained system.
Met Éireann latest Orange Weather Alert affects Cork and 18 other counties - and is expected to be the coldest point in this frosty snap.
It will apply from 6 o'clock this evening to noon tomorrow.
A status yellow low temperature/ice warning will remain in place for the entire country until Friday.
Speaking to RedFM News, Paul Sheehan says Cork Simon was already under pressure before the cold weather.
"Last month, we had an average of 75 people a night staying in our emergency shelter, that's the highest number we've ever seen since the shelter opened.
"The pressure on emergency beds has been building, slowly but surely since the summer months.
"It's been a huge logistical challenge, there's no question about that, in terms of needing extra staff, extra volunteers, extra bedding."
