Ireland is in for a ‘messy week’ of forecasts according to one weather expert who expects things to change rapidly from day to day as an aggressive weather system brings snowfall and low temperatures.
WXcharts show that up to 5cm of snow is expected to hit a band of counties from east to west this week and Met Eireann has opted to place weather warnings into effect from 6:00 pm tonight (Monday, Feb 6).
Alan O’Reilly of Carlow Weather took to Twitter on Sunday night and said: “Really messy week of weather ahead, cold from tomorrow evening and cold likely to last up to Friday with a risk of some heavy snow on higher ground at times, especially in Northern areas.
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“A week to keep up to date with weather forecasts that will chop and change”.
The status yellow ice weather warning will be in effect from 6:00 pm this evening until 10:00 am on Tuesday with Irish forecasters advising: "Hazardous conditions due to freezing temperatures including icy stretches on roads and paths".
The forecasts are certainly expected to change over the coming days but people can expect the severe chill to remain.
As of 6:00 am on Monday, February 6, here is the forecast for Ireland from Met Eireann:
Today
Hazy sunny spells are expected today with well-scattered showers to start, with outbreaks of rain moving into the north, slowly moving southwards.
Things will turn colder and clearer behind the rain with highest afternoon temperatures in the north of just 4 or 5 degrees.
It will be milder in the south in the early afternoon with temperatures reaching 6 to 9 degrees, all in light to moderate northwesterly breezes.
However, conditions will turn very cold from the north in the evening with icy stretches developing.
Long clear spells will develop as the last of the rain clears southern counties early tonight.
It’ll be very cold with lowest temperatures of 0 and -4 degrees leading to widespread sharp frost and possible icy stretches. Wintry showers will later move into north-facing coasts later, in mostly light northerly breezes.
Tuesday
It is expected to be very cold tomorrow, but with plenty of sunshine too.
Some well-scattered sleet or snow showers will stream into the north and northwest, with a lot of dry weather elsewhere.
Highest temperatures will range from just 3 to 6 degrees with light to moderate northerly breezes. A few wintry showers will continue near northern coasts overnight while staying dry and clear elsewhere.
It’ll be another icy cold night with a widespread sharp or severe frost as temperatures fall to between -5 and 0 degrees.
However, it will remain mostly dry and clear over the northern half of the country, with wintry falls of rain sleet, or snow in parts of the south.
Wednesday
It’s going to be a very cold frosty start with icy stretches on Wednesday, but with a good deal of dry bright sunshine.
Many areas will stay dry for the day in moderate east to southeast winds, though outbreaks of rain or sleet may continue over the southern half of the country.
Highest temperatures will again range just 3 to 6 degrees.
Widespread wintry outbreaks may continue to feed up from the southwest through the night.
It’s due to be very cold in parts with lowest temperatures of -4 to + 0 degrees with light to moderate northeasterly breezes.
Thursday
Further wintry outbreaks will continue through to Thursday, with any snow turning to a mix of sleet and rain as the day progresses.
It’ll be a chilly day with highest temperatures of 3 or 4 degrees, but milder along the southern fringes. Mostly moderate easterly breezes.
Conditions will be cold again overnight with lows ranging from -2 to +2 degrees.
Friday
At this point, the Met Eireann forecast says: “Considerable uncertainty for Friday, with current indications suggesting outbreak of rain over the southern half of the country, possibly turning to sleet or snow over the northern half”.
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