Ireland is in for below-freezing temperatures next week as forecasts show a major drop on the way - predicted to head as low as -12C in some counties.
Met Eireann’s forecast for the week ahead says it is due to be “very cold” in the second week of December however rainfall amounts are due to be below average.
There will be many clear spells tonight, with isolated showers continuing in the east of the country. Lowest temperatures will range from -1 to +4 degrees with frost expected.
READ MORE: Irish actress Eve Hewson corrects The New York Times after being described as British
Things are due to stay dry in many areas with sunny spells, and isolated showers on Sunday, mainly in the eastern half of the country.
Some of these showers may turn to sleet over hills and mountains and highest temperatures of 5 to 7 degrees are due.
As for the major change from next week, Munster is expected to avoid the harshest of the downturn, but according to Weather Alerts Ireland, the ECMWF (European Centre for Medium-Range Forecasts) model is showing there is potential to be as low as -12C in parts of Derry and Antrim on Friday morning.
According to ECMWF, milder air is pushing in and will bring a bitter chill, while the same charts are indicating overnight temperatures going down to between -1C and -3C in the central and eastern areas of Cork.
West Cork and Kerry could get chillier than that with it going to somewhere between -3C and -6C, but again these are early indications.
Meanwhile, the eastern half of the country looks set to remain between -1C and -3C with some areas reaching +3C.
Met Eireann’s latest forecast, however, does not include matching information in terms of temperatures next week, but it does say that subzero temperatures are expected next week.
According to the national forecaster, temperatures will drop to around -1C nationwide over Tuesday night into Wednesday, but they haven't made a prediction for Thursday and Friday just yet.
After Wednesday they simply say: "Current indications are that it will stay very cold through the remainder of the working week with daytime temperatures reaching just the low to mid-single digits, and potentially dipping a few degrees below freezing at night.
"Remaining dry in most areas with isolated outbreaks of wintry precipitation."
READ NEXT:
Tributes paid to man who died after he fled the scene of gruesome murder in Monaghan
Cameron Reilly - trial hears he told friends he was bisexual and on Grindr
Irish actress Eve Hewson corrects The New York Times after being described as British
Get breaking news to your inbox by signing up to our newsletter
