Temperatures plummeted well below zero overnight as Arctic air engulfed Ireland.
Met Eireann said thermometers plunged as low as -3C in parts while some areas woke up to late April frost.
But a major weather U-turn is forecast to happen just in time for the May bank holiday weekend, with the mercury swinging by a remarkable 21C.
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The national forecaster says the unusually cold conditions will give way to “very mild” weather this weekend, with highs of 18C forecast. It’s not all good news however, as according to its long-range forecast, above average rainfall is forecast throughout next week.
Over the coming days it will feel cold with regular outbreaks of rain or drizzle.
Giving a day-by-day breakdown of the rest of the working week, Met Eireann said: “Cold and sunny to begin Tuesday with some frost. Cloud will gradually build with a few well scattered showers developing. Outbreaks of rain will push into the southwest in turn later in the evening. Highest temperatures of 8C to 12C, best values in the west, all in just light southeasterly breezes.
“Patchy outbreaks of drizzle and mist overnight Tuesday will move up across much of the southern half of the country tonight. Lowest temperatures of 0C to 5C, coldest further north with a touch of frost. Easterly breezes will be just light.
“Wednesday will be a generally dry day with a mix of cloud and sunny spells. Some light rain or showers will occur locally though. Highest temperatures of 9C to 13C, again with just light easterly breezes.
“Mostly dry Wednesday night under broken cloud with a touch of frost under clearer skies. Lowest temperatures of 0C to 5C in light easterly breezes.
“Some sunny spells early Thursday on with increasing cloud and scattered outbreaks of rain and drizzle slowly feeding up from the southwest. Highest temperatures of 10C to 14C, in light east to southeast breezes.
“Patches of rain early Thursday night, becoming mainly confined to western coasts overnight. Lowest temperatures of 5C to 8C in light easterly or variable breezes. Some mist or shallow fog patches too.
“Scattered showers Friday will largely affect the western half of the country with the best the bright or sunny spells further east. Highest temperatures generally of 13C to 16C in just light southerly breezes.”
Looking ahead to the May bank holiday weekend, it said temperatures could reach 18C in parts, along with “April showers”.
The national forecaster said: “A mix of cloud and sunny spells this weekend with scattered April showers. Very mild with highest temperatures of 14C to 18C in very light southerly breezes.”
The meteorological service’s long range forecast for next week reads: “The signal for a dominant pattern for surface pressure being high or low diminishes, and only a very weak signal for high pressure lies to the east. Nevertheless, a signal for higher than average temperatures are forecast for the period, along with again a signal for slightly higher than average rainfall amounts.”
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