Met Eireann’s forecast for the remainder of the week shows heavy rain, frost and ice on the way for most counties as temperatures drop.
Wintry showers and even a potential for snowfall are expected for some before the washout weekend ahead.
As for today, Thursday, “a few bright spells are likely this morning, but in general, it will be mostly cloudy today,” according to the Irish forecaster.
It’ll be mainly dry throughout the morning and afternoon, apart from a few spots of light rain and drizzle, mainly in western parts.
However, later in the afternoon and evening, a band of persistent and heavy rain will spread from the northwest - but much of Leinster and Munster will stay mainly dry until nighttime.
It is expected to become windy with southwest winds increasing fresh to strong and gusty at times, veering northwesterly later in the northwest.
This band of heavy and persistent rain will continue overnight, extending southeastwards, with cold clear weather following.
The lowest temperatures of -1 to +3 degrees, coldest away from the west coast, with some frost and ice.
Tomorrow, Friday will be “a cold, bright day with sunshine and showers, some heavy hail and sleet too for a time - with the showers most widespread in northern parts.”
Some snow showers are likely for a time in Ulster, especially over higher ground.
Later in the day the showers will become more isolated and will mainly be of rain, though still some wintry showers could be seen in northern counties.
Highest temperatures will range from just 4 to 8 degrees.
As we head into the weekend, Met Eireann predicts that “Saturday will start fairly bright but cloud will be increasing through the morning, patchy outbreaks of rain will develop through the afternoon, with rain will become heavier and more persistent in the northwest through the evening.”
It’ll be fairly breezy too as moderate southwesterly winds freshen through the day with afternoon temperatures moving back to a milder 8 to 11 degrees.
As for Sunday, “blustery outbreaks of rain will continue through the day extending to most areas once again with just limited bright or sunny spells developing.”
Highest temperatures will range from 9 to 12 degrees in moderate to fresh westerly winds.
