Temperatures to plunge to -3C later this week with frost and ice on route 

A frosty Kent Station in Cork. File picture: Larry Cummins 

Temperatures look set to drop as low as -3C this week, with Met Éireann forecasting frost, ice, and hail showers in some parts of the country.

As a high-pressure system moves in at the end of the week, conditions will be calm, clear, and cold, with daytime temperatures unlikely to rise higher than 8C, and nighttime temperatures dropping down to -3C.

The forecaster says Tuesday afternoon will see a mix of showers and spells of sunshine, with temperatures ranging from 7C to 10C in moderate to fresh and gusty southwesterly winds.

Tuesday night will be quite dry, with showers becoming more isolated and temperatures falling to about -1C to 3C, with patches of frost and ice forming.

Wednesday too will be dry, with spells of sunshine and just isolated light showers in the west and northwest. Wednesday night will be somewhat cooler than Tuesday, with conditions hovering between -2C and 2C.

Met Éireann says Thursday will also be "largely dry and sunny", though there will be some patchy rain or drizzle in the southwest. Temperatures on Thursday will range from 7C to 10C.

The mercury will drop to about -2C to 2C once again on Thursday night, giving rise to some frost and ice patches.

From Friday, conditions will become somewhat colder, according to Met Éireann. Daytime temperatures will not rise higher than about 8C, while on Friday night, temperatures could drop as low as -3C in some parts of the country.

And conditions are expected to remain frosty over the weekend, with daytime temperatures ranging from 4C to 8C on Saturday and Sunday, before dropping down to -2C to 2C each night.