Met Eireann’s forecast for the weekend is for rain, sleet and snow across the country as Ireland plunges further into a deep freeze.
Over the coming days, we can expect further freezing nights, temperatures in the minuses and very wintry weather as forecasters, local councils and emergency services plead for caution in such potentially hazardous conditions.
In their latest forecast, Met Eireann experts have pinpointed Sunday night as the coldest night over the coming days. The mercury will plummet to -5 degrees with widespread frost, ice, and some snow. The most recent update also suggests that forecasters aren’t expecting any let-up from the freeze until later next week at least.
Until 11 am today, the entire country is on a Status Yellow low-temperature warning for widespread frost and ice after a night of -3 degree chill.
From Saturday, the entire country is on a Weather Advisory with disruption expected. A spell of rain will spread across the country on Saturday, bringing rain, sleet and snow before clearing eastwards into the Irish Sea. Until midnight on Monday, Met Eireann says to expect “hazardous travelling conditions” and disruption to travel services.
Here is the latest:
Today – Any frost and fog will clear this morning for cold and bright day with sunny spells. It will be largely dry again in many areas apart from a few isolated showers, mainly in western areas. Highs of 2 to 5 degrees in mostly light to moderate westerly or variable breezes.
Staying cold tonight and mainly dry with clear spells and just the chance of an isolated shower. Lowest temperatures of -2 to +1 degrees with frost and some ice forming once again.
Tomorrow – A wet and cold day. The frost and fog will clear as rain spreads from the southwest through the morning, turning to sleet and snow at times particularly over higher ground. Cold with highest temperatures of just 1 to 6 degrees, with the higher temperatures along the south coast, where the precipitation will fall mainly as rain.
A wet and cold night Saturday night with widespread heavy falls of rain, sleet and snow. Lowest temperatures of -1 to +3 degrees in moderate to fresh and gusty east to northeast winds.
Sunday – Further falls of rain, sleet and some further snowfall accumulations for a time. It’ll gradually become drier from the west later in the day as the area of low pressure moves away eastwards. Feeling very cold with the highest temperatures of 2 to 7 degrees and with the added wind chill from fresh and gusty northerly winds.
Any remaining rain, sleet and snow will clear eastwards on Sunday night, with clear spells following. Scattered rain, hail, sleet and snow showers will follow too, mainly into the west. Very cold with some lying snow, widespread frost and ice. Lowest temperatures of -5 to 0 degrees.
Monday – Very cold with some bright or sunny spells and scattered showers of rain, hail, sleet and snow. Temperatures ranging from freezing to 5 degrees. Overnight, is it to be cold with some clear spells and further scattered wintry showers and lowest temperatures of -4 to +2 degrees.
Tuesday – Another very cold day with treacherous icy conditions and lying snow. Overall there’ll be a lot of dry bright, sunny weather with highest temperatures of just 0 to 5 degrees.