The latest forecast for Ireland shows the snow and subzero temperatures will continue through the weekend.
That’s according to the updated predictions from Met Eireann which confirm that many counties in the north, east, and west have been hit with the white stuff overnight.
Weather forecasts also warn people not to be fooled by the afternoon sunshine on Friday, as snow returns just hours later and will continue for a number of days in some areas.
READ MORE: Ireland weather: Low system to bring 'snow to more areas' amid 19-county warning and -4C drop
Rain, sleet and snow will continue to spread northeastwards to most areas this morning with poor visibility and hazardous road conditions in some parts.
Falls of sleet and snow will continue over the northern half of the country this afternoon, but it will turn mainly to rain and sleet further south.
Afternoon highs of 1 to 5 degrees are expected, but things will be significantly milder in southern coastal areas.
It’ll be cold and windy at first tonight with falls of sleet and snow in many areas giving rise to very poor visibility and hazardous road conditions.
The sleet and snow will continue overnight over the eastern half of the country, but it will become drier further west with frost and ice developing under clear breaks.
Lowest temperatures will dip between -4 to 0 degrees and will be coldest in the west, with northerly winds gradually easing light to moderate overnight.
Friday
Residual rain, sleet and snow in the east will clear into the Irish Sea early on Friday morning, giving way to a cold and mostly dry day with sunny spells.
Highest temperatures of 4 to 7 degrees in light variable breezes.
Friday night will be dry in many areas to begin on Friday night but with clouds gradually thickening from the southwest.
Rain in the southwest will spread northeastwards over Munster and parts of Connacht and Leinster overnight, falling as a wintry mix of sleet and snow initially.
Lows of -3 to +3 degrees are expected generally, but locally it will be colder in the northeast where snow is lying and skies remain clearest the longest.
Saturday
Saturday will see rain, sleet, and snow continuing to extend northeastwards over the country on Saturday morning with transient accumulations across Connacht, Ulster and parts of Leinster before a clearance extends from the southwest during the afternoon and evening.
Afternoon temperatures will range from 1 to 2 degrees in the north to 12 or 13 degrees in the southwest. Moderate and occasionally gusty southeast winds, fresh to strong near coasts, will veer west to southwest as the rain clears.
The last of the rain and sleet will clear the northeast early on Saturday night and most places will be dry with variable cloud and clear spells for a time.
Cloud will thicken countrywide later in the night and patchy rain and drizzle will develop in the western counties towards morning.
Sunday
It will become wet and windy on Sunday. Rain will become widespread during the morning, before transitioning to showers in the afternoon and evening.
Afternoon highs of 10 to 14 degrees in moderate to fresh and gusty southerly winds, strong near coasts.
A windy night on Sunday is forecast with showers or longer spells of rain. Lows of 6 to 9 degrees generally, but 4 to 6 degrees in Ulster.
Monday
Scattered showers to begin, but becoming mainly dry with sunny spells for a time in the afternoon. Another spell of rain will arrive from the Atlantic towards evening.
A windy or breezy morning is expected with fresh to strong and gusty west to northwest winds easing light to moderate in the afternoon. Afternoon highs of 5 to 8 degrees in the north, and 9 to 12 degrees further south.
Return of Spring
While these grim conditions are expected to continue into the middle of March, From Friday 24, the forecaster is currently indicating the arrival of springtime conditions and above-average temperatures.
It states that: “Currently it is expected that pressure will build for the third week.
“As a consequence, it will be drier and temperatures are also expected to be slightly higher than usual for the time of year”.
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