Cold snap to hit as mercury drops to -3C before wetter weekend arrives

Met Éireann says that while a good amount of dry, bright weather is expected, rain, sleet, hail and some snow showers will dominate the week. File picture

An arctic airmass will move across the country this evening, bringing sub-zero temperatures, widespread frost and icy conditions, Met Éireann has warned.

The forecaster said temperatures could fall as low as -3C in some areas later in the week, with the wind chill factor making conditions feel even colder.

Snow showers are forecast, particularly across northern regions and higher ground, while other showers may fall as sleet and hail.

Modest accumulations of snow are expected tomorrow on elevated areas in the north and northwest.

On Tuesday morning, rain and drizzle will clear, followed by sunshine and scattered showers. In the north, these showers could turn heavy, with a chance of hail.

It will become a cold night with scattered showers in parts of the north and northwest, with some pushing west at times. The rest of the country will remain mostly dry with long clear spells on Tuesday night.

The showers, especially further north, will turn "increasingly wintry", falling as sleet or snow, especially over higher ground, the national forecaster said. Lows of -1C to 3C are forecast nationwide.

Wednesday will be a cold day again, with sunshine and scattered showers in Ulster, Connacht, and some parts of western Munster. Met Éireann said some of these showers will fall as sleet and hail, with snow possible too.

"Modest accumulations" of snow are expected on higher ground in the north and northwest. Highs of 4C to 7C are expected during the day.

Further showers, some wintry, are forecast for Wednesday night in the north and northeast. However, it will stay dry elsewhere with lows of -2C to 3C.

Thursday will bring mostly sunny spells and isolated wintry showers in the north and northwest. Highs of 4C to 8C are forecast. However, temperatures will drop later in the night to as low as -3C, with frost and icy conditions expected.

Conditions should improve by Friday, with temperatures rising nationwide.

However, the weather is expected to turn more unsettled over the weekend, with heavy rain and hail showers possible in parts of the country.

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