‘The heating bills are going to hurt’ - Temperatures set to plunge across Ireland
Cooler air moving in over the next few days will bring wintry showers and frost
Ireland is bracing for wintry showers and frosty conditions as temperatures are set to plunge over the next week.
Thursday night saw temperatures dip as low as -5.5 degrees with the country waking up to widespread frost on Friday morning.
Carlow Weatherman Alan O’Reilly said “the heating bills are going to hurt” as cooler air is expected from next week.
Meanwhile, Met Éireann has given its five-day-forecast predicting generally unsettled conditions with outbreaks of rain and showers. It will turn colder next week with the chance of some wintry showers, along with widespread frost and some icy patches by night.
Today
A cold start today with widespread frost and icy patches in places. The frost will gradually clear this morning to leave a mainly dry day with sunny spells with just isolated showers, mainly in the north and northwest, with a few later in southern coastal areas. Turning cloudy in the south and southwest later. Highest temperatures of just 5 to 9 degrees in a light variable breeze.
Tonight, patchy cloud will spread from the south with well scattered showers. Some clear spells will persist. Another cold night with frost developing for some. Lowest temperatures of -1 to +4 degrees in light to moderate southerly winds.
Saturday
Tomorrow will be a cloudier day overall with occasional bright spells at first. Mostly dry to start with a few light showers but outbreaks of rain and drizzle will push into the west and southwest through the afternoon, spreading over the western half of the country by nightfall. Feeling milder with highest temperatures of 8 to 12 degrees in moderate southerly winds, freshening later.
Rain will spread eastwards to all areas early on Saturday night, becoming patchier by morning. Lowest temperatures of 4 to 8 degrees with moderate to fresh southerly winds easing light variable later.
Sunday
A dull start to Sunday with patchy outbreaks of rain and drizzle. Brightening up through the afternoon with sunny spells and scattered blustery showers spreading from the north. Turning breezy with moderate to fresh northwesterly winds. Highest temperatures of 8 to 12 degrees.
Mostly dry and clear overnight. However, scattered showers will affect Atlantic coastal counties, with some turning wintry in the north and northwest. Turning cold with lowest temperatures of -1 to +4 degrees, leading to widespread frost and icy patches in light to moderate westerly winds.
Monday
A cold start to the day with any frost and ice slow to clear. Most places will be dry with sunny spells, though scattered showers will continue in the north and northwest during the morning, with some turning wintry. Turning cloudier in the southwest later. Highest temperatures of 6 to 9 degrees with moderate westerly winds easing light later.
Tuesday
Cloudy and wet on Tuesday with rain spreading from the southwest during the morning, possibly turning to sleet on higher ground at first. The rain will turn patchier through the day. Feeling cool with highest temperatures of 5 to 9 degrees with moderate to fresh easterly winds, easing and veering northerly.
Further outlook
Remaining rather cool with showers on Wednesday and Thursday.