Met Eireann has confirmed that snow will arrive in Ireland on Wednesday night as temperatures are set to drop below zero.
A far cry from the glorious conditions the country welcomed over the past week, as rain, hail, sleet and snow are expected to spread eastwards.
The forecaster said: “Cold and frosty overnight with mostly clear skies. There will be a few wintry showers of rain, hail or sleet, with snow possible on high ground. Showers will chiefly affect some northern and eastern coastal areas. Lowest temperatures of -3 to zero degrees in moderate northeast breezes.”
Things are to remain cold for the rest of the week, with snow showers also possible on Thursday, especially on the north and east coasts of the country.
Temperatures will fall as low as -4 degrees tomorrow night, with motorists urged to drive cautiously as the frost and icy patches linger into the afternoon.
The snowfall will subside towards the weekend, and the weather will remain predominantly dry with a few localised showers in places and some sunshine poking through.
The best of the conditions on Friday are expected in the east and south of the country, but temperatures will remain relatively low, between 7 to 10 degrees in the warmest places.
Friday night will turn wet as cloud thickens and showers develop over north Connacht and Ulster.
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Likewise, Saturday will remain cloudy with widespread showers. Again, some sunny spells will be seen particularly across Ulster in the afternoon and evening.
Temperatures will pick up slightly with a maximum of 8 to 11 degrees before dropping to -1 during the night.
Outbreaks of rain will develop across the west and north of the country towards dawn on Sunday, affecting most of the country before clearing away to the south, with drier and brighter weather developing for the afternoon and evening.
Next week is expected to bring a mixed bag of weather conditions with rain at times, but temperatures will remain around the April average.
A forecaster said on Wednesday: “The colder air has arrived in Northeast and will move down over the country with some showers becoming wintry on hills is the East layer. Good news is by Monday temperatures will be back up again.”
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