Ireland’s first batch of snow this winter could blanket the country in the coming days thanks to a low pressure system from Norway.
It’s being dubbed the ‘Troll from Trondheim’ and will bring subzero temperatures, widespread frost and showers of sleet, snow and hail.
Forecasters have noted a change in pressure patterns that will put Ireland in the firing line for a snowy blast arriving via the Norwegian Trondheim Fjords.
READ MORE: Ireland snow tracker shows when it will fall in your area as Met Eireann warn 'big shock' on the way
Met Eireann has issued a nationwide weather advisory that lasts until Saturday, which reads: “Very cold this week as an Arctic airmass sets in, bringing sharp to severe frosts and icy stretches on roads. Showers of hail, sleet, and snow will occur during the second half of the week.”
The meteorological service has not ruled out issuing further warnings as the wintry weather takes hold, adding: “Updates with potential warnings will be issued in the coming days.”
While temperatures will fall below freezing tonight, and tomorrow will feel chilly, Wednesday has been pinpointed as the exact day snow could hit.
Giving further details about where exactly it could fall, the national forecaster says showers will turn increasingly wintry later in the day on Wednesday, with snow likely on high ground. Overnight showers will move southwards over Ireland falling as sleet or snow in some areas.
It says Thursday will be “very cold” with temperatures remaining in low single figures. There will be a mix of sunny spells and scattered showers of sleet, snow and hail. Later in the day, the wintry showers will become mainly confined to coastal parts of the northwest.
Thursday night will be “bitterly cold” with temperatures as low as -4C. Widespread frost and icy stretches are forecast, as well as more sleet or snow near coasts.
Met Eireann says wintry showers will continue on Friday, particularly near coasts.
Looking ahead to this weekend, a forecaster said: “Little change expected. Staying very cold with some wintry showers and widespread frost by night.”
Ireland five-day forecast
This evening and tonight
Met Eireann said: “Scattered showers will continue to feed in from the east today, some possibly with hail. The best of the dry and bright weather will be in the west and north of the country. Highest temperatures of 5C to 9C in a moderate northeasterly breeze, fresh near the coast.
“Scattered showers will continue tonight, mainly in Leinster and Munster, with mostly dry and clear conditions elsewhere. It will be cold with a fairly widespread frost away from windward coasts, as temperatures drop to between -2C and 3C. Coldest conditions are expected in the north. A light to moderate northeasterly wind will continue.”
Tuesday
The national forecaster continued: “Tuesday will be mostly dry with sunny spells, but there will be a few showers too, mainly near the east and south coast where it will be cloudiest. Chilly with highest temperatures of 4C to 8C, in a light northerly breeze.
“Very cold Tuesday night with widespread frost, as temperatures drop to between -3C and 2C. It will be generally dry and clear, but will become cloudier with isolated showers in the northwest later, and there will be a light northerly wind.”
Wednesday
The forecast reads: “Cold with temperatures only reaching 2C to 5C, in a light north to northwest wind. It will be dry and sunny in most places, but there will be scattered showers in northern and western coastal areas. The showers will turn increasingly wintry later in the day, with snow likely on high ground.
“Bitterly cold Wednesday night with temperatures falling below zero degrees countrywide and as low as -3C or -4C in some places. There will be a widespread sharp to severe frost and ice on untreated surfaces. Showers will move southwards over the country overnight and will fall as sleet or snow in some areas.”
Thursday
The meteorological service said: “Very cold with temperatures remaining in low single figures. A mix of sunny spells and well scattered showers of sleet, snow and hail. The showers will become mainly confined to coastal parts of the northwest, north and east as the day goes on. Winds will be light and come from the north.
“Another bitterly cold night on Thursday with a widespread sharp to severe frost and icy stretches. Minimum temperatures of -4C to -2C in a light north to northwest wind. Most areas will be dry and clear but there will be wintry showers at times near the coast.”
Friday
Met Eireann continued: “Staying very cold with temperatures remaining in low single figures. Mostly dry with sunny spells, but wintry showers will persist near coasts, especially in the north.”
This weekend
Its forecast concludes: “Little change expected for the weekend; staying very cold with some wintry showers and widespread frost by night.”
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