Ireland is set for a chilly weekend after a dramatic change in airmass caused temperatures to go from warmer than Malaga to colder than Iceland.
Last week saw Ireland enjoy a mini-heatwave with above-average temperatures and very little rain.
But the nice weather came to an abrupt end on Wednesday when cold air began pushing down from Scandinavia.
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Over the coming days, temperatures will struggle to reach double figures and plummet as low as -4C overnight, with Met Eireann warning of widespread frosts.
With low daytime temperatures, Ireland will be as cold as Iceland at times, where highs of just 6C are forecast this week.
Met Eireann has also forecast wintry showers of rain, hail, sleet and even snow for some areas.
Giving the exact days for when to expect wintry showers, Met Eireann said it is most likely to fall overnight on Thursday and Friday. Eastern and northeastern areas are set to be affected the most, particularly on hills and mountains.
In its latest forecast for tonight, the national forecaster said: “Thursday night will be cold with a widespread frost. There will be isolated showers and some may be of a wintry nature, but most of the country will be dry with long clear spells. Lowest temperatures of -4C to 1C in a light northerly wind.”
Looking ahead to Friday, it continued: “Friday morning will be cold and frosty with sunny spells. Cloud will increase from the north through the day and outbreaks of rain will develop in Ulster and north Leinster during the afternoon and evening. Highest temperatures of 6C to 10C in a light to moderate northerly wind.
“On Friday night outbreaks of rain will affect east and northeast counties and may turn to sleet at times over higher ground, becoming more widespread towards morning. Lowest temperatures of 0Cto 2C, coldest in Munster where under clearer skies there may be a touch of frost locally, while cloud cover should keep temperatures higher elsewhere, in moderate northwest winds.”
Ireland can expect more of the same weather over the weekend although temperatures are due to improve slightly.
A forecaster said: “Rather cloudy on Saturday with showers mixed with sunny spells, the best of the sunny spells will be across Ulster in the afternoon and evening. Highest afternoon temperatures 7C to 10C in light northerly breezes.
“Showers will become isolated on Saturday night as most of the country becomes dry with clear spells. Frost will form in parts of the southeast where it will be coldest with lowest temperatures of 0C to -2C.
“Sunday will be mainly dry with sunny spells and isolated showers in the afternoon. Highest temperatures of 8C to 11C in light northerly winds.
“Becoming cloudier overnight Sunday night with rain extending into the north and east towards morning. Lowest temperatures of 1C to 4C rising later in the night as winds back southwesterly overnight.”
Met Eireann’s current indications for next week suggest westerly winds will bring a more unsettled spell of weather with rain or showers at times and temperatures closer to the seasonal average of 11C or 12C in the afternoon.”
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