Ireland will be engulfed by a swathe of Arctic air this weekend, bringing subzero temperatures and frosty conditions as a ‘Polar front’ sweeps the country.
Temperatures plummeted as low as -2C overnight, with warnings that it will feel cold all weekend amid a “biting cold windchill”.
It comes as the Polar front, the meeting point of airmasses separating the Arctic and northern Europe, is about to plunge southwards across Ireland.
READ MORE: Ireland weather: 'Biting cold windchill’ warning as Met Eireann forecast strong winds and heavy rain
However, Met Eireann has ruled out the chance of snow saying it is not likely to fall anywhere in Ireland this weekend.
The national forecaster added that next week will quickly revert to milder and more unsettled weather.
Giving its forecast for today, it said: “Cloudy, with a band of rain tracking eastwards. Rain turning heavy at times, though clearing most areas by evening. Windy with fresh to strong and gusty southerly winds developing, moderating westerly in the clearance from the rain. Highest temperatures of 7C to 11C.
“Any lingering rain will clear the east tonight while scattered showers will extend over the western half of the country. Turning mostly dry and clear in the east. Lowest temperatures of 3C to 6C in a fresh and blustery west or southwest wind.”
Looking ahead to tomorrow, it continued: “Bright and blustery on Sunday with sunshine and scattered showers, some heavy with hail, most frequent over the western half of the country. Highest temperatures generally ranging 6C to 10C in a moderate to fresh westerly wind.
“Some clear spells early in the night with a touch of grass frost possible in Ulster as temperatures dip to between 2C and 5C, but it will be milder in the southwest where rain will extend from the Atlantic early in the night. The rain, which will be heavy at times, along with moderate to fresh southeasterly winds, will extend across the country through the night.”
It comes as Irish weather expert Alan O’Reilly has warned the windchill will bring temperatures down further than forecast.
Posting weather maps on his Carlow Weather Twitter account, he said: “Frosty tonight with temperatures dropping to as low as -3C. Feeling cool over the weekend too with a biting cold windchill. Also we could see a dusting of snow on the very high mountains like Lugnaquilla with windchill down to -10C at peak. Now only very high mountains!!”
Next week, daytime temperatures are set to return to more normal levels, however frosts are still possible at night.
Giving its overall forecast for the week of Monday, November 21 to Sunday, November 27 Met Eireann said: “Low pressure to the west will dominate our weather through Week 1 with a predominately southwesterly airflow. Rainfall will be above average over much of the country, especially in the west and southwest. Temperatures will be slightly above normal, especially in the south and southeast. Potential hazards include strong wind and heavy rain at times. Despite the warmer than average temperatures, frosts are still possible at night.”
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