Winter is expected to set in before the week is out
Temperatures will drop to 0C on Sunday night
Winter conditions look likely to set in before the end of the week ahead of an Arctic blast next week, with Met Eireann expecting temperatures to drop to freezing this weekend.
This follows a spell of unsettled conditions for much of the country, with southern counties being battered by rain over the past few days and a number of weather warnings issued.
Met Eireann has forecast similar conditions leading up to the weekend, with plenty of wet and windy weather affecting much of the country but temperatures will remain quite mild for the time of year.
That will change towards the end of the coming weekend, however, as the national forecaster anticipates temperatures to plummet to freezing on Sunday night.
Speaking of Sunday night, Met Eireann forecasts that it will be “mostly dry with clear spells, although cloud will increase in the north and west at times, bringing a few light showers. Cold with lowest temperatures of 0 to 5 degrees, in a light west to northwest wind.”
This comes ahead of the threat of an Arctic blast that could see temperatures drop even lower next week, potentially as low as -2C, which could bring snowy conditions.
A blocking high pressure system is currently developing which could see less rain but significantly cooler conditions.
“There is a signal for a northerly air-flow to become established over Ireland during the week as a Blocking High Pressure develops in the mid-Atlantic,” a Met Eireann spokesperson said of next week.
“The weather is likely to turn somewhat more settled with rainfall totals during the week forecast to be near or below normal. Mean air temperatures are likely to trend around or slightly below the climatological average.”
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