Met Eireann has forecast a cold snap this week as an Arctic airmass sets in with several days of subzero temperatures, widespread frost and showers of sleet, snow and hail.
Temperatures are set to plummet to below freezing again tonight with snow expected to arrive in northern and western areas from Wednesday.
This comes as Met Eireann has issued a nationwide weather advisory that lasts until Saturday, which reads: “Very cold this week as an Arctic airmass sets in, bringing sharp to severe frosts and icy stretches on roads. Showers of hail, sleet, and snow will occur during the second half of the week.”
The meteorological service has not ruled out issuing further warnings as the wintry weather takes hold, adding: “Updates with potential warnings will be issued in the coming days.”
While temperatures will fall below freezing tonight, tomorrow has been pinpointed as the exact day snow could hit.
Here is what weather we can expect this week:
Tuesday, December 6
Cold with some frosty patches this morning, and while it will be a mostly dry day with prolonged sunny spells, it will remain cloudier with a few showers near southern and eastern coasts. Staying cool with highest temperatures of 4 to 8 degrees, in mostly light northerly breezes.
Very cold tonight with widespread frost, as temperatures drop to between -3 and +1 degrees generally. Some mist and fog will also develop in the south in light northerly winds. It will be mainly dry and clear, but will become cloudier with isolated showers in the northwest later, some may turn wintry, especially over higher ground.
Wednesday, December 7
Wednesday will be a cold day with highs only reaching 2 to 4 degrees, in light northwest or variable winds. It will be dry and sunny in most places, but a scattering of showers will push down over Ulster and Connacht through the afternoon and evening, while turning increasingly wintry with snow possible on higher ground.
On Wednesday night, there will be a widespread sharp frost with lows of -3 to +1 degrees with ice on untreated surfaces. Wintry showers will move southwards over the northern half of the country overnight and temperatures will rise marginally with falls of rain, sleet and snow, in some areas, that may lead to some very icy conditions.
Thursday, December 8
Very cold with temperatures only nudging above freezing in some areas with high of between +1 and +4 degrees generally in light northerly breezes. Scattered outbreaks of rain, sleet, and possibly some snow over higher ground, will gradually push down over the south of the country. Sunny spells and some scattered wintry showers will follow. They will become confined to coastal parts through the afternoon.
Thursday night will be another bitterly cold night with a widespread sharp to severe frost and some icy patches. Minimum temperatures of -4 to -1 degrees in light northwest to west breezes. Most areas will be dry and clear, but there will be a few wintry showers at times, mostly near northern coasts.
Friday, December 9
Staying very cold with temperatures once again struggling to get to +1 to +4 degrees in light westerly breezes. Most of the country will remain dry and quite sunny, but wintry showers will persist near coasts, especially in the west.
Another widespread frost is expected on Friday night with a mix of cloud and clear spells as lowest temperatures dip to between -3 and -1 degrees generally. Wintry coastal showers will continue near western coasts. While a rogue wintry shower or two can't be ruled out elsewhere, it will mostly be a dry night. Fog, or freezing fog will develop as the night goes on, becoming quite dense through the midlands by morning.
Saturday, December 10
Very cold on Saturday with some parts of the midlands not expected to rise above zero as fog persists. Elsewhere generally only getting to +1 to +3 degrees. Apart from the chance of coastal showers in the north and west, it will be a dry day with sunny spells. These becoming confined as the fog is expected to become more widespread through the afternoon and evening.
Little change expected for Sunday and the early days of next week, while it will be mostly dry it will be raw with fog persisting in some areas, possibly up to the middle of the week.
READ NEXT:
Dad regrets 'moment of madness' that cost him job, freedom and unborn child
Concern for missing rugby player weeks after being sent home from Ireland tour
Girl dies after taking 'unknown tablet' in nightclub as teen arrested
Meghan and Harry's documentary 'utterly explosive and worse than royals can imagine'
Get breaking news to your inbox by signing up to our newsletter
