Met Eireann’s five-day forecast suggests the arrival of snow for a number of regions as Ireland braces itself for a big freeze with temperatures tumbling to lows of -6C.
It looks as if coastal areas will miss out on the main snow showers with slightly higher temperatures and rain forecast.
Those in more midland counties can expect a showering of snow over the coming days with forecasters warning of ‘treacherous conditions.’
READ MORE: Follow live updates as the big freeze hits Ireland
The entire country has been to be alert with icy conditions and ‘severe frosts’ affecting roads nationwide.
Thursday
It was an icy start to the day today with black ice and patches of freezing fog leading to hazardous travel conditions.
Well scattered showers will continue to sink southwards this morning, turning wintry in parts with a light dusting of snow on some lower levels.
Sunny spells will follow this afternoon, as wintry showers become confined to northern coastal counties. However, after-dark showers of sleet and snow will move into parts of the east.
Tonight, treacherous conditions will arrive with a severe frost setting in quickly after dark along with some icy stretches.
There will be some wintry showers of sleet and snow, mainly across east Leinster with some lying snow possible.
It will be bitterly cold with temperatures of -5C to -2C in a light northerly breeze.
Friday
Much of the country will be dry on Friday with some winter sunshine, but it will be very cold with icy stretches, some lying snow, as well as freezing fog in parts.
Wintry showers will affect some northern and western coastal counties, with some thundery conditions expected near the coast.
Highest temperatures will range from 0-4C, in light northwest or variable breezes.
Friday evening will feature widespread sharp to severe frost which will set in along with icy stretches.
While many areas will be dry, some showers of hail and snow will affect Atlantic coastal counties, but falling as rain near the coast.
Lowest temperatures will drop to between -5C and 0C in light westerly or variable breezes.
Saturday
It will be a generally dry day on Saturday with low winter sunshine but isolated wintry showers will occur too.
Frost and ice will linger in unsheltered areas, along with some patches of freezing fog and highest temperatures of just -1C to +4C are expected in light northwesterly breezes.
At nighttime, dense freezing fog will form in parts leading to impaired visibility and a widespread sharp to severe frost is expected with icy stretches - lowest temperatures of -5C to 0C degrees are due.
Sunday
On Sunday, temperatures will struggle to rise above freezing for most with frost, ice and freezing fog persisting throughout the day.
It’ll be mainly dry apart from isolated showers in some coastal margins and highest temperatures will range from -2C to +2C degrees in light, variable breezes.
Widespread frost and ice will occur overnight with lows ranging from -6C to -2C degrees.
Wintry showers of sleet and snow will move in closer to the Atlantic coast
Monday onwards
A specific forecast has yet to be confirmed for Monday onwards, however the Irish forecasters say: “The cold weather is likely to continue but uncertainty in the fine details at this stage.”
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