The big freeze is here to stay for the weekend and most of next week, according to a weather expert.
Alan O'Reilly from Carlow Weather has confirmed that he believes the cold snap will last for at least the next seven days. Speaking to Claire Byrne on RTE Radio One, he said: "It is going to last right through the weekend and into next week.
"It now looks like it's going to last most of next week. It looks like it's going to stay cold up until the end of next week, possibly milder air coming in next weekend.
Read more: Snow brings chaos to Dublin as cold snap to continue for at least a week
"We look like we're stuck in this very cold but mainly dry pattern for at least another seven days."
He also confirmed that the ice and snow is unlikely to thaw out today, as temperatures will remain very low. Paths and roads will remain icy - so take care if you are leaving the house today.
Alan confirmed: "If the sun can get out, it will only thaw where it hits. There really won't be much thaw."
And Met Eireann's latest forecast says the cold weather is "likely to continue" into late next week and beyond. In an update issued earlier today, they gave bleak outlooks for the weekend, Monday, and Tuesday, while also saying that the cold snap may not end after then - though they also added that there remains some "uncertainty" over the forecast beyond Tuesday.
The full Met Eireann outlook for the next five days can be found below:
Tonight
Sharp to severe front tonight with icy stretches. Temperatures to plummet to -5C tonight..
Saturday
Generally dry with low winter sunshine, with isolated wintry showers. Frost and ice lingering in unsheltered areas, along with some patches of freezing fog. Some showers may develop by evening. Highest temperatures of only 0 to +4 degrees, in light northwesterly breezes.
Saturday night
There will be dense freezing fog Saturday night with sharp frost and more icy stretches. Temperatures to drop to -5C.
Sunday
Temperatures struggling to rise above freezing for most with frost, ice and freezing fog persisting throughout the day. Mainly dry apart from isolated showers in some coastal margins. Highest temperatures of -2 to +2 degrees in light, variable breezes.
Sunday night
Widespread frost and ice overnight with lows ranging from -6 to -2 degrees. Wintry showers of sleet and snow will move in closer to the Atlantic coast.
Monday
Remaining cold Monday as temperatures in many parts may stay below freezing. Any fog inland will likely persist. Again mostly dry with isolated wintry showers along coasts. Light easterly breezes.
Monday night
Very cold overnight with lows of minus 2 to minus 4 degrees causing widespread frost, ice, and freezing fog in light northeasterly breezes. Clear for most with just coastal areas experiencing any cloud or isolated showers.
Tuesday
Current indications have Tuesday remaining cold with temperatures remaining below freezing. Again overall dry with freezing fog patches. Light northerly breezes.
Further outlook
Cold weather is likely to continue, though uncertainty in the fine details at this stage.
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