Dooish, Cashelnavean. Photo: Stephen Crowe

Cold snap to last another few days with snow possible

Weather update from Met Éireann

It's a biting cold start to the day as a Status Yellow cold and ice warning remains in place for the country until 10am; and will kick back in from 8pm this evening overnight again with temperatures of minus four forecast.

Cold to the end of the working week with frost and icy patches, along with some falls of sleet, snow and hail. Turning milder and more unsettled this weekend with potential for a spell of wet and windy weather.

Met Éireann says it will be cold day today (Wednesday) with frost and icy stretches on untreated surfaces this morning, lingering in some spots through the day. Dry with sunshine for many but scattered showers of sleet and snow will continue in the north and northwest.

Turning cloudier in the afternoon with a spell of heavy rain moving into the west and southwest, turning to hail, sleet and snow at times as it spreads inland. Afternoon highs of just 3 to 6 degrees in light northwesterly or variable winds.

Rain will spread across the southern half of the country tonight, turning to sleet and snow at times away from coasts with some accumulations possible. Further north it will be mostly dry with scattered wintry showers continuing in Ulster and north Connacht. Very cold with lowest temperatures of -4 to 0 degrees in light to moderate easterly or variable winds. Widespread frost and ice will develop.

Outbreaks of rain, sleet and snow will clear to the south tomorrow morning, leaving another very cold day with showers of rain, sleet and snow, most frequent across Connacht, Ulster and west Munster. Some icy stretches will linger through the day with temperatures reaching just 1 to 4 degrees in light to moderate northwesterly winds, fresher near northern coasts.

A cold night again tomorrow Thursday with widespread frost and icy stretches developing. Mostly dry with clear spells, though scattered showers of rain, sleet and snow will feed into Ulster, Connacht and Munster. Lowest temperatures of -4 to +1 degrees in moderate westerly winds.

Friday is expected mostly dry with spells of sunshine and just a few wintry showers near northern and Atlantic coasts. Highest temperatures of 3 to 7 degrees in moderate southwest to west winds.

Turning wet and windy Friday night with heavy rain spreading across the country from the southwest, accompanied by strong to near gale force and gusty southeasterly winds. Some occasional falls of sleet are possible early in the night. There is a chance of localised flooding. Lowest temperatures of 0 to 5 degrees but it will turn milder as the rain spreads.

Saturday is expected to be a wet and windy day with widespread and heavy rain, leading to localised flooding. Strong and gusty southerly winds. Milder with highest temperatures of 12 to 15 degrees.

Very windy on Sunday again with strong southwesterly winds. A showery day with some heavy showers possible. Highest temperatures of 9 to 12 degrees.

Further outlook: Current indications suggest it will become more settled in the early days of next week with drier conditions developing and winds easing.