Temperatures could drop as low as -9 degrees this week, a weather expert has warned.
Weather Alerts Ireland says much colder air will push down over Ireland as the week goes on, which could see thermometers tonight and tomorrow night dip down to -3 or -4 degrees in parts of the country. On Thursday night into Friday, further drops could see some areas with temperatures as low as -8 or even -9 degrees.
And while the nights are promised to be chilly, daytime temperatures will hardly be better, as they “will struggle in the single figures with some spots possibly lingering around freezing”. This cold spell is expected to last well into next week, they added.
Read more: How long will snow and ice last in Ireland? Arctic airmass to extend Dublin cold snap
Snow could also making a comeback, with Weather Alerts Ireland saying the highest chance of snow is in the north of the country as heavy showers push in from Thursday. They have advised people to get prepared and to take care, especially with the price of electricity and fuel this year. They also advise checking in with vulnerable people they know.
Meanwhile, temperatures will nosedive tonight to as low as -3 degrees in parts of the country, according to Met Eireann reports. The forecast suggests that hail, sleet and snow will dominate Ireland during the second half of this week. A winter weather warning for bleak conditions is currently in place up until this Saturday night.
Today’s weather in Dublin will be mostly dry, with some sunny spells and the odd scattered shower. Temperatures during the day remain surprisingly high, ranging from 6 to 8 degrees.
However, chilly conditions will take over by evening as temperatures plunge. Frost is set to develop around the inner city and along the coast, with average temperatures of -1 to 2 degrees.
Here is the national forecast for the next few days in line with the weather warning.
Tuesday
Cold with some frosty patches this morning, and while it will be a mostly dry day with prolonged sunny spells, it will remain cloudier with a few showers near southern and eastern coasts. Staying cool with highest temperatures of 4 to 8 degrees, in mostly light northerly breezes.
Tuesday night
Very cold with widespread frost, as temperatures drop to between -3 and +1 degrees generally. Some mist and fog will also develop in the south in light northerly winds. It will be mainly dry and clear, but will become cloudier with isolated showers in the northwest later, some may turn wintry, especially over higher ground.
Wednesday
Wednesday will be a cold day with highs only reaching 2 to 4 degrees, in light northwest or variable winds. It will be dry and sunny in most places, but a scattering of showers will push down over Ulster and Connacht through the afternoon and evening, while turning increasingly wintry with snow possible on higher ground.
Wednesday night
There will be a widespread sharp frost with lows of -3 to +1 degrees with ice on untreated surfaces. Wintry showers will move southwards over the northern half of the country overnight and temperatures will rise marginally with falls of rain, sleet and snow, in some areas, that may lead to some very icy conditions.
Thursday
Very cold with temperatures only nudging above freezing in some areas with high of between +1 and +4 degrees generally in light northerly breezes. Scattered outbreaks of rain, sleet, and possibly some snow over higher ground, will gradually push down over the south of the country. Sunny spells and some scattered wintry showers will follow. They will become confined to coastal parts through the afternoon.
Thursday night
Another bitterly cold night with a widespread sharp to severe frost and some icy patches. Minimum temperatures of -4 to -1 degrees in light northwest to west breezes. Most areas will be dry and clear, but there will be a few wintry showers at times, mostly near northern coasts.
Friday
Staying very cold with temperatures once again struggling to get to +1 to +4 degrees in light westerly breezes. Most of the country will remain dry and quite sunny, but wintry showers will persist near coasts, especially in the west.
Friday night
Another widespread frost is expected with a mix of cloud and clear spells as lowest temperatures dip to between -3 and -1 degrees generally. Wintry coastal showers will continue near western coasts. While a rogue wintry shower or two can't be ruled out elsewhere, it will mostly be a dry night. Fog, or freezing fog will develop as the night goes on, becoming quite dense through the midlands by morning.
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