Met Eireann upgraded its weather warnings on Tuesday with a number of alerts issued for the coming days.
After milder conditions ended several days of Arctic weather at the weekend, snow and subzero temperatures have returned for some parts of Ireland.
A new Status Yellow weather warning for snow and ice has been issued for Cavan, Donegal, Monaghan, Leitrim and Sligo.
It comes into effect at 6pm Tuesday and lasts until 12 noon Wednesday. Met Eireann said: “Lying snow and freezing temperatures Tuesday evening and Tuesday night. Falls of sleet and snow Wednesday morning could produce some temporary accumulations. Potential impacts include icy roads and paths and hazardous travelling conditions."
A second Status Yellow weather warning has also been issued for rain, affecting Cork, Kerry and Waterford.
The alert begins at 6pm Wednesday and lasts until 6am Thursday. It reads: “Prolonged rainfall through Wednesday and Wednesday night. Potential impacts include localised flooding and difficult travelling conditions.”
The bitterly cold weather is expected to last right through until Wednesday before a major U-turn.
The national forecaster has pinpointed Thursday as being “a mild and breezy day” with temperatures pushing to 16C at times.
St Patrick’s Day (Friday) is also forecast to be “relatively mild” with a mix of sunny spells and showers, some of which will be heavy and prolonged.
The milder weather will be short-lived however, with Met Eireann saying: “This week will be unsettled with rain or showers. Mild for a time before temperatures trend downwards.”
Its forecast for this weekend reads: “Rather mixed with clear spells and showers but with light enough winds overland. Temperatures are likely to slip back though with colder nights lending to some frost and possible ice.”
Met Eireann day-by-day weather forecast for Ireland
Tuesday, March 14
Met Eireann's latest forecast reads: "Sunny spells and widespread blustery, wintry showers this afternoon with isolated thunderstorms. Some further falls of snow possible in parts of Ulster and the north midlands. Becoming largely fine later as the showers die away. Highest temperatures of only 5 to 9 degrees (north to south), with an added wind chill factor owing to fresh and gusty northwest winds, easing later.
"Frost and ice will set in quickly after dark under clear skies and easing winds. Cold with lowest temperatures of -3 to +1 degrees, coldest in Ulster. Later in the night, rain will develop in the southwest and across western fringes."
Wednesday, March 15
The national forecaster continues: "Cloudy tomorrow morning as rain in the southwest and west extends to all areas by lunchtime, preceded by some local sleet or snow with some temporary accumulations possible. Continuing wet through the afternoon and evening with poor driving conditions. The rain will be heavy in places resulting in some spot flooding. Afternoon temperatures of 2 to 5 degrees in the north, 7 to 11 degrees generally. Fresh and gusty south to southeast winds later veering southerly.
"A wet night with heavy falls of rain, leading to spot flooding, though easing off later. Breezy too, in mostly fresh southerly winds. Relatively mild though with lowest temperatures of 7 to 11 degrees."
Thursday, March 16
For Thursday, the meteorological service said: "A mild and breezy day sunny spells and showers, some heavy and prolonged. Highest temperatures of 12 to 15 or 16 degrees in moderate to fresh southwest winds, best values across the northeast.
"Scattered outbreaks of rain will move up across the country, in a moderate southerly airflow, stronger along southern coasts. Another relatively mild night with lows of 8 to 10 degrees."
Friday, March 17
It's forecast for St Patrick's Day reads: "Current indications suggest it will be a showery day on St. Patrick's Day. There will be a mix of sunny spells and showers, some of heavy and prolonged. Relatively mild with highest temperatures of 12 to 15 or 16 degrees, in moderate to fresh southerly winds with best values away from southern counties.
"A mix of clear spells and slow moving showers with some mist and fog locally as the winds slacken. Lowest temperatures of 6 to 9 degrees."
This weekend
This week's forecast concludes: "Rather mixed with clear spells and showers but with light enough winds overland. Temperatures are likely to slip back though with colder nights lending to some frost and possible ice."
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