Weather Ireland: Met Eireann warns of freezing rain and black ice tonight as Arctic blast set to hit Ireland

Met Eireann is warning of freezing rain and black ice tonight as an Arctic blast is set to hit Ireland. 

Met Eireann is warning that a band of wintry precipitation will sink southwards over the country tonight with the potential for black ice and freezing rain on surfaces leading to hazardous conditions. That warning comes into place at midnight and remains in place until midday on Thursday. 

A separate Low Temperature and Ice Warning for Ireland comes into place at 10pm on Thursday and remains in place until 10am on Friday. 

Met Eireann is warning that it will remain very cold into early next week as an Arctic airmass sets in, bringing sharp to severe frosts, and ice or black ice on roads and footpaths. Some showers of hail, sleet, and snow will occur. There is the potential for freezing fog too, especially this weekend.

According to the latest Met Eireann weather forecast, it will be mostly dry across Leinster and Munster overnight, but scattered showers will affect Connacht and Ulster, some turning wintry, especially over high ground. Towards dawn, a band of wintry showers will push south over Ulster. Widespread frost and ice overnight with lowest temperatures of -4 to zero degrees. Some patches of freezing fog developing also.

There will be an icy start on Thursday with patches of freezing fog in places. A band of wintry showers over Ulster will track southwards over the country. Some accumulations of snow are possible, especially in Midland counties and over high ground leading to hazardous travel conditions. Sunny spells and scattered wintry showers will follow. Maximum temperatures of just 0 to +3 degrees in light north or variable winds.

According to the latest Met Eireann weather forecast for Ireland, a severe frost will set in quickly after dark on Thursday night and it will turn icy in places. There will be some wintry showers in Atlantic coastal counties of Connacht and Ulster and also for a time in parts of east Leinster. A covering of snow is possible where showers occur. Lowest temperatures of -5 to -2 degrees in a light northerly breeze. Patches of freezing fog developing also.

Friday will begin very cold with icy stretches, some lying snow and patches of freezing fog. Much of the country will be dry with sunshine developing. Wintry showers will affect some Atlantic coastal counties, possibly heavy or thundery near the coast. Maximum temperatures generally ranging from 0 to +3 degrees in light northwest or variable winds.

It will be another very cold night on Friday night with a widespread sharp to severe frost and some icy stretches. Many areas will be dry but there will be showers affecting Atlantic coastal counties at times, many of hail and snow, but falling as rain near the coast. Lowest temperatures of -5 to zero degrees in light west or variable winds.

A very cold day on Saturday with frost and ice lingering through much of the day along with some patches of freezing fog. Dry for many but a few wintry showers will occur. Highest temperatures of -1 to +3 degrees in light, variable winds. Widespread frost and ice on Saturday night. Mostly dry with some freezing fog. Lowest temperatures of -5 to zero degrees.