Temperatures to plunge to lows of -5C as status yellow ice warning takes hold
Met Éireann says it will be "very cold with temperatures expected to fall below -3C in many areas. Frost and ice developing will cause hazardous travelling conditions."
Temperatures are expected to drop below freezing as the first of two weather warnings takes over the country.
Met Éireann has issued two status yellow low temperature and ice warnings with the mercury expected to drop to lows of -5C this week.
The first warning, which came into effect at 5pm on Thursday, will see sub-zero temperatures impacting the entire country. This warning will be in place until 12pm on Friday.
Met Éireann says it will be "very cold with temperatures expected to fall below -3C in many areas. Frost and ice developing will cause hazardous travelling conditions."
The second Met Éireann warning, which also impacts the whole country, will kick in at 5pm on Friday, and run until midday on Saturday.
Met Éireann says the weather will be "very cold with widespread frost and icy conditions." Fog and freezing fog are also expected.
The forecaster warns of hazardous conditions on roads and paths and says travel disruption will also be likely.
The country is copping a blast of cold air from northern Scandinavia, leading to the cold snap.
Meteorologist Aoife Kealy explained earlier this week: “An Arctic airmass is going to sink across us this week, bringing noticeably colder conditions than we’ve had lately. Daytime temperatures will struggle to get above the low single figures, especially from Wednesday onwards."
Thursday night will be very cold with widespread "sharp to severe frost and icy stretches."
There will also be some scattered wintry showers affecting western parts of Connacht and Ulster. Temperatures will fall to lows of -5C to 0C on Thursday night, with some mist and fog possible too.
Looking ahead to the weekend, it is expected remain cold "with frost and ice and potentially some wintry precipitation".
Friday, "the first day of the meteorological winter", will be cold and mainly dry with sunny spells. Friday night will see temperatures fall to lows of -4C.
Saturday will be another cold day with frost, ice and a light dusting of snow locally to begin. Temperatures will reach highs of 6C but there will be lows of -3C.
"During Saturday evening and night, some scattered outbreaks of rain and drizzle will move in off the Atlantic, possibly turning wintry in places," Met Éireann added.
Sunday will be wet and breezy while current indications suggest that Monday and Tuesday of next week will be less cold with rain or showers, but with "uncertainty to the detail."
The UK Met Office has also issued an ice warning for counties Antrim, Down and Derry.
This warning comes into effect at 5pm on Thursday, but will end at 10am on Friday.
Counties Fermanagh, Tyrone and Armagh are the only three counties on the island of Ireland exempt from Thursday's warnings.
Check out the Irish Examiner's WEATHER CENTRE for regularly updated short and long range forecasts wherever you are. Rainfall and temperature charts are also available.
