Met Éireann has warned it has ‘high confidence’ that falls of snow could hit the north west on Monday to mark the start of a five-day cold spell.
The country is also set to experience an ‘Arctic maritime regime’ from Tuesday onwards, which may see temperatures plummet to as low as -3C.
After weeks of unseasonably mild weather, the national meteorology service is warning that bitterly cold conditions will remain until Friday, starting in the north west on Monday.
This will draw in freezing Arctic air from the north, bringing what Met Éireann describes as an ‘Arctic maritime regime’ to the country. As a result, Ireland will experience a blast of icy winds and a high risk of wintry showers, including snow, sleet and hail.
A Met Éireann spokesperson confirmed it will turn much colder next week.
“However, there is now high confidence for a spell of cold and wintry weather from Monday night onwards and throughout much of next week with frost, ice and some wintry showers,” they said.
They have predicted that the first snow flurries could arrive in northern and western areas on Monday. Scattered wintry showers of hail, sleet and snow are forecast across the rest of the country from Tuesday to Friday. Connacht and Ulster are likely to see the most frequent snow, where some lying snow is expected. Daytime temperatures will range from around 3C to 6C next week, dropping from 0C to -3C after dark.
On Monday, forecasters say, an area of low pressure moves across Ireland bringing outbreaks of rain.
“Some wintry falls are possible over the north of the country, but details remain uncertain,” a Met Éireann spokesperson said.
“Highest temperatures of 4 to 12 degrees (north to south). Cold on Monday night with frost and ice forming as temperatures fall back to between -1 and +3 degrees. Some wintry showers will affect northern and western counties.”
A ‘cold northerly air-flow’ develops over Ireland from Tuesday to Friday, bringing a mix of sunshine and scattered wintry showers of hail, sleet and snow.
“Showers will be most frequent across Connacht and Ulster with some lying snow expected, especially over the hills, but not exclusively. There will be widespread frost and ice at night with some hazardous travelling conditions. Typical daytime temperatures will range from around 3 to 6 degrees whilst night-time temperatures will range from around zero to -3 degrees.”
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