Sub-zero temperatures due but weekend to be dry and sunny

Temperatures as low as-3C are expected over the weekend. Picture: Sam Boal/Rollingnews.ie

The country will see some sub-zero temperatures this weekend, with lows of -3C expected, but there will also be dry and sunny weather.

Met Éireann said the bright start to 2024 will continue across the weekend.

Friday will be "mainly dry and sunny", with "just isolated showers in mostly moderate northwest winds", Met Éireann said.

Friday night will see some scattered showers in the north and northwest of the country. Temperatures could drop as low as -2C with frost in places, and "light northwest winds will allow areas of fog or mist to develop."

On Saturday, it will be mainly dry and sunny again, but once "lingering mist" clears, there will be some isolated showers, mainly in the north. Temperatures may reach 8C.

Saturday night will be "cold and frosty", and areas of fog "may become dense in places". Temperatures are expected to drop to lows of -3C.

Sunday will also be cold and frosty with "fog lingering inland", but sunny otherwise. Lows of -3C are predicted again on Sunday night.

Looking ahead to next week, Monday will be cold but mainly dry with "a mix of cloud and sunny spells once fog clears".

A cold night will follow, with some frost and ice, and temperatures will again reach lows of -3C.

According to the forecaster, current indications suggest that "high pressure will remain positioned close to Ireland bringing mostly dry and rather cold weather" for the next few days.

Elsewhere, Nordic countries have been gripped by extreme cold as temperatures fell below -40C for the second day in a row on Wednesday.

In Swedish Lapland, the mercury dropped to -43.6C, making it the coldest January temperature recorded in the county in 25 years.

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