Met Éireann Forecasts Plummeting Temperatures and Hazardous Conditions

Met Éireann has issued a warning for temperatures to drop as low as -3C from Thursday night into Friday morning, continuing the recent cold snap affecting many regions. A status yellow low-temperature and ice warning will be in effect for 10 counties starting at 11 PM tonight, highlighting the potential for widespread frost, icy patches, and hazardous travel conditions. The warning is set to expire at 8 AM on Friday.

In addition, a yellow snow and ice warning remains active for counties including Antrim, Armagh, Down, Fermanagh, Tyrone, and Derry until midday today. The outlook for Thursday indicates a generally cold day with sunny spells interspersed with scattered showers, particularly in the north and west. Temperatures throughout the day will range from 3C to 7C under a light to moderate northwesterly breeze.

As night falls, conditions will turn significantly colder, with temperatures expected to dip to between 2C and 3C below freezing. This will result in frost and icy stretches across many areas. On Friday morning, conditions are predicted to start mostly dry, but cloud cover will increase, leading to outbreaks of rain along Atlantic coastal counties, driven by a freshening southwesterly breeze. Highest temperatures on Friday are expected to range from 5C to 9C.

The weekend forecast suggests a wet start on Saturday, with rain slowly clearing eastwards throughout the morning. Met Éireann anticipates a spell of dry weather developing by the afternoon, although overcast conditions will persist. Heavy showers may move into Munster and south Leinster during the late afternoon, with daytime temperatures ranging from 6C to 10C.

Saturday night promises to be another wet and overcast period, with showers affecting the eastern regions, which may be heavy at times. Minimum temperatures will range from 3C to 6C. On Sunday, rain is expected to gradually clear during the morning, but cloudy conditions will remain. Northwesterly breezes will ease, allowing for some sunny spells to develop, mainly in the south during the afternoon. Sunday’s highest temperatures will range from 7C to 10C.

As the night progresses into Sunday, conditions are forecast to remain generally dry and cloudy, though some lingering rain may occur over Connacht and Ulster. More cloud is expected to build later in the night, ahead of another band of rain moving in from the south. As temperatures fall to between 0C and 4C, further frost and icy patches are likely.

For ongoing updates and forecasts, visit the Irish Examiner’s Weather Centre.