Ireland is set for a cold and frosty end to the week as a freezing air mass moves in from Scandinavia, bringing the chance of snow.
Met Eireann has predicted some sunny spells to appear across the country before things take a chilly turn and temperatures plummet to below freezing.
The worst of the conditions will be seen on the northern and eastern coasts, with some wintry showers likely on higher ground.
It will get colder as the week goes on, with people advised to take care while driving as frost and mist remain in the early morning.
A forecaster said: “Latest charts out and show that bitterly cold windchill Thursday but very little rainfall for the next 7 days and some good sunny spells Thursday and Friday. Band of rain Saturday night and Sunday looks weaker now.”
Here is a more detailed look at Met Eireann’s forecast.
Today, March 30
Mist and fog will clear this morning with some sunshine in the south for a time. However, cloudier conditions with showery rain will extend south across the country during the morning and afternoon, introducing much colder conditions and a freshening northeast breeze.
Drier and brighter conditions will follow across northern counties for the late afternoon and evening, along with a few showers.
Afternoon highs of just 5 to 8 degrees in the north and east but ranging 9 to 12 degrees in the south and west.
Cold and frosty overnight with mostly clear skies. There will be a few wintry showers about, mainly affecting some northern and eastern coastal areas.
Minimum temperatures of -3 to zero degrees in moderate northeast breezes.
Thursday, March 31
A cold, bright and frosty start on Thursday. There will be good spells of spring sunshine during the day, but it will feel noticeably chilly in a brisk northeasterly breeze. Scattered showers of rain, hail and sleet are expected, chiefly affecting eastern coastal counties with a possibility of some snow on high ground. Highest temperatures of 6 to 9 degrees in a fresh northeast wind.
A few showers in coastal areas of the north and east on Thursday night but most of the country will be dry and clear.
A widespread frost is expected with temperatures of falling back to between -4 to 0 degrees in light northerly breezes.
Friday, April 1
After a cold and frosty start, Friday looks set to be a mostly dry day with just a few localised showers.
There will be a mix of cloud and sunshine, with the best of the sunshine expected in the east and south of the country.
Top temperatures of 7 to 10 degrees in moderate northerly winds.
There will be some frost forming early on Friday night, but cloud is expected to thicken from the north, with showery rain developing in north Connacht and Ulster later.
Lowest temperatures of 0 to +4 degrees, coldest in the south of the country with moderate northwest winds.
Saturday, April 2
Rather cloudy on Saturday with widespread showers, some prolonged. There will be some sunny spells also, especially across Ulster in the afternoon and evening.
Maximum temperatures 8 to 11 in moderate northwest breezes.
Showers look set to become isolated on Saturday night, with most of the country becoming dry and clear.
A frost will form in places with lowest temperatures of -1 to +3 degrees. Outbreaks of rain will develop across the west and north of the country towards dawn on Sunday.
Sunday, April 3
Outbreaks of rain are expected to affect the country for a time on Sunday before clearing away to the south, with drier and brighter weather developing for the afternoon and evening.
Highest temperatures of 8 to 11 degrees.
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