Snow Warning issued for parts of Ireland as Met Eireann forecast polar plunge in temperatures

The weather in Ireland is set to take an Arctic turn in the coming days with a Snow Warning issued for parts of Ireland and temperatures set to drop as low a -5 degrees.

The weather is set to turn tonight with what Met Eireann described as an Arctic airflow is set to bring freezing temperatures and snow to Ireland this week.

Met Eireann is warning that it will be very cold overnight through the week with frost, ice and some possible wintry falls but adds that there is some uncertainty from midweek onwards with the forecast.

Met Eireann has issued a Status Yellow Ice Warning for Ireland for Monday night into Tuesday morning. Met Eireann is warning that hazardous conditions due to freezing temperatures including icy stretches on roads and paths. Sleet or snow flurries in Munster overnight. The warning comes into effect at 6pm today and remains in place until 10am on Tuesday.

A separate Status Yellow Snow and Ice Warning has been issued by the UK Met Office for Antrim, Armagh, Down, Fermanagh, Tyrone and Derry. It warns that snow showers and icy patches likely to cause some travel disruption.

According to Met Eireann, during tonight, rain and drizzle over the southern half of the country will continue turning to sleet or snow in places for a time. Long clear spells will follow and it will become very cold with lowest temperatures of 0 and -4 degrees with a widespread sharp frost and some icy stretches. A few wintry showers will develop on north facing coasts.

According to Met Eireann, Tuesday will start off cold and frosty with ice in places. Frost and ice will clear and it will be a cold, bright and mainly dry day with sunny spells. A few showers may develop on north facing coasts. Highest temperatures of just 3 to 6 degrees with light to moderate northerly breezes.

Tuesday night will be another icy cold night with a widespread sharp or severe frost as temperatures fall to between -5 and 0 degrees. Mostly dry and clear over the northern half of the country, with wintry falls of rain sleet or snow in parts of the south.

A very cold frosty start on Wednesday with icy stretches, but with a good deal of dry bright sunshine about too. Many areas will stay dry for the day in moderate east to southeast winds, though outbreaks of rain or sleet may continue over the southern half of the country. Highest temperatures will again range just 3 to 6 degrees.

According to Met Eireann, widespread wintry outbreaks may continue on Wednesday night feeding up from the southwest through the night. Very cold in parts with lowest temperatures of -4 to + 0 degrees with light to moderate northeasterly breezes.

Further wintry outbreaks are forecast through Thursday, with any snow turning to a mix of sleet and rain as the day progresses. A chilly day with highest temperatures of 3 or 4 degrees, milder along southern fringes. Mostly moderate easterly breezes. Cold again overnight with lows of -2 to +2 degrees.

Met Eireann says there is considerable uncertainty for Friday, with current indications suggesting outbreak of rain over the southern half of the country, possibly turning to sleet or snow over the northern half.