Met Eireann has issued a six-day long ‘winter weather’ advisory, warning of hail, sleet, snow, freezing fog and subzero temperatures.
The nationwide alert, which came into force on Friday and lasts until noon on Thursday, reads: “Turning cold across the country between Sunday evening and Thursday morning as an Arctic airflow becomes established, bringing sharp to severe frosts and icy stretches on roads and footpaths.
“Some showers of hail, sleet and snow are expected with the potential for freezing fog. Further updates to the advisory and warnings are expected in the coming days.”
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However, the wintry weather is not expected to last long as a turn to milder weather is forecast from Thursday.
Today’s weather is set to be wet and windy, with a Status Yellow Wind warning in place for Donegal until 10pm.
It reads: “Westerly winds will be very strong and gusty, especially near coasts and on high ground.”
Giving its nationwide forecast for today, Met Eireann said: “Saturday will be cold with scattered showers and some sunny spells. It will turn windy this afternoon and evening with strong and gusty westerly winds, increasing very strong in the northwest, with strong gales at times in coastal areas. Not as windy in the south. Showers will be most widespread this afternoon. Isolated hail and lightning are possible, with some falls of sleet later in the day. Afternoon temperatures of 4C to 7C.
“Staying windy at first tonight with westerly winds largely easing overnight. Strong winds will however develop in the southwest. There will be a mix of showers with clear spells, cloudier in Ulster with a band of heavier rain moving down overnight. Some sleet in parts, with snow possible over mountains. Chance of local hail or lightning too. Lows of 0C to 3C with a touch of frost.”
The weather will turn much colder tomorrow. The national forecaster said: “Sunday will bring a good deal of cloud with some bright or sunny periods. There will be further showers, prolonged in some areas, with a chance of hail too. Northwest winds will be strong for a time in the southwest tomorrow morning, otherwise westerly winds will be light or moderate. Showers will turn increasingly wintry in the north through the evening. Highs of 4C to 7C degrees.
“Showers will mostly become confined to northern counties overnight with clearer weather developing elsewhere. Some falls of sleet likely, falling as snow later in the night in the north. Widespread frost will form with ice on untreated surfaces. Lowest temperatures of -3C to -1C. Pockets of freezing fog will also form in light winds, westerly becoming northerly.”
Looking ahead to next week, it continued: “Frost or ice will linger in some parts during the day on Monday. There will be sunny spells with wintry showers, some of hail, feeding onto northern facing coasts in a light northwest airflow, and also into the southwest. Turning cloudier with showers possibly becoming more widespread later. Afternoon temperatures of 2C to 6C, coldest in the north.
“Widespread sharp frost Monday night with temperatures falling to -3C or -4C, possibly colder locally. Clear spells with scattered wintry showers. Some freezing fog will likely form with little wind.
“Cold on Tuesday with lying frost or ice. Afternoon temperatures of just 1C to 3C. A mostly bright day with showers continuing to feeding into Atlantic and northern areas in a northerly airflow, freshening later. Lowest temperatures of 0C to -3C
“Sunny spells with scattered wintry showers on Wednesday. Highs of 3C to 6C but feeling very cold in a brisk northerly wind. Temperatures will likely fall below zero again on Wednesday night.”
The weather will take a turn from Thursday. Met Eireann said: “Turning much milder on Thursday with a spell of rain and fresh southwest winds moving in from the Atlantic. Staying mild and changeable for the rest of the week.”
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