Met Éireann forecasts subzero temperatures as Ireland braces for bitter cold snap
Temperatures are set to plunge below freezing before a weekend weather U-turn will bring rain
Ireland is set to experience a bitter cold snap over the coming days, with Met Éireann forecasting freezing temperatures, widespread frost and a chilly start to the weekend.
The national forecaster has warned that temperatures could fall as low as -2 degrees on Thursday night, with motorists facing potentially icy conditions on Friday morning.
Carlow Weatherman Alan O’Reilly has also forecast frosty conditions for Thursday but said there is still uncertainty around the weekend.
Meanwhile, Met Éireann has given their five-day-forecast for the week ahead predicting cool and largely dry conditions with sunny spells for the rest of the working week and frosts by night.
Wednesday Night
Tonight will be mostly dry with clear spells, though there is the chance of isolated patches of drizzle over the northern half of the country and near east coasts. A cold night with lowest temperatures of -1 to +3 degrees with frost developing in light to moderate northerly winds.
Thursday
Tomorrow morning, any frost will clear to leave a cool, crisp day. Most places will be dry with sunshine, though isolated showers will affect the north and northwest. Highest temperatures of 6 to 10 degrees in a light to moderate northerly breeze.
A cold and frosty night as it remains dry and clear for many. It will be cloudier in parts of the north, northwest and northeast, where some isolated showers may occur. Lowest temperatures of -2 to +2 degrees generally in light northerly or variable breezes.
Friday
A cool, dry day for most with plenty of sunny spells. It will be cloudier in parts of Ulster and Connacht though, where the odd isolated shower is possible. Further cloud will build from the southwest later, possibly bringing some isolated showers. Highest temperatures of 6 to 9 degrees in light variable breezes.
Cloud will continue to build overnight, bringing outbreaks of rain and drizzle, mainly affecting western coasts. Lowest temperatures of -1 to +4 degrees, mildest in the southwest with light southerly breezes, increasing light to moderate by morning.
Saturday
It will be a mostly cloudy day with some limited sunny spells. Outbreaks of rain will feed in from the south and west through the day, though many areas should stay dry. More persistent rain is possible in the west and northwest. Milder on Saturday with highest temperatures of 9 to 11 or 12 degrees in a moderate southerly breeze.
Sunday
There is some uncertainty in the details, but current indications suggest it will be a rather wet day as rain pushes in from the west and northwest, possibly turning heavy at times. Highest temperatures of 6 to 9 degrees in the northern half of the country and milder in the southern half of the country with highs of 9 to 12 degrees, all in mostly light southerly breezes veering northwesterly and increasing moderate.
Monday
Current indications suggest that it will be a cold start to Monday with further outbreaks of rain expected later in day, spreading from the west.
Further outlook
Current indications suggest that next week will be rather unsettled with wet and breezy conditions.