Ireland is set for a dramatic weather U-turn with temperatures going from hotter than Malaga to colder than Iceland.
After enjoying a week of sunny skies and above-average temperatures, things will take a chilly turn from Wednesday as a much colder air mass moves down over Ireland.
Sunday was the warmest day of the year so far, with temperatures reaching 18.9C in Newport Furnace, Co Mayo.
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But by Wednesday, daytime temperatures will struggle to reach double figures and are set to plummet as low as -3C overnight.
Met Eireann has also warned that wintry showers could fall in some areas.
In its latest forecast, it said Ireland can expect temperatures of up to 16C tomorrow with “good sunshine for most” - but there will be a big change on Wednesday.
It said: “A mix of cloud and sunny spells on Wednesday with scattered showers, driest over the western half of the country. Colder air with clearer conditions will push down from the north during the afternoon and evening with highest afternoon temperatures over Ulster of just 5C to 9C. Highest temperatures elsewhere in the early afternoon of 9C to 13C in light to moderate northeasterly winds, fresher in the west and northwest.
“Largely clear overnight on Wednesday and dry for most as showers become mostly confined to eastern parts, possibly turning wintry at times. Cold with lowest temperatures of -3C to 1C with frost developing in mostly moderate northeasterly winds.”
Looking ahead to Thursday, it continued: “Frost will clear in the morning to leave a day with good sunshine interspaced with scattered light showers. Noticeably cooler throughout the country with highest temperatures of 6C to 9C in mostly moderate northerly winds.
“Thursday night will be largely dry and clear though there will be some showers near coasts. Another cold night with lowest temperatures of -3C to 1C, with frost developing again in light to moderate northerly breezes.”
The low temperatures will make Ireland colder than Iceland at times, where daytime temperatures of up to 6C are forecast this week.
Meanwhile, one weather expert has issued a warning about windchill.
Alan O’Reilly wrote on his Carlow Weather Twitter account: “The windchill on Thursday morning will be a shock to the system and feel like a quick return to Winter.”
He shared long-range weather maps showing windchill as low as -6C on Thursday morning.
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