Arctic blast set to knock the spring out of our steps

DESPITE the balmy Spring temperatures earlier this week, we can expect a wintry change next week, with snow even forecast as temperatures plummet.

Temperatures could drop to -2C tomorrow night as an Arctic weather front moves in.

Experts are warning it will turn unsettled and much cooler next week with the possibility of snow in Ulster.

Despite temperatures of 18C this week, temperatures are expected to linger around a chilly 7C over the next few days.

And the unwelcome colder weather is expected to stay for the rest of the week with further unsettled conditions.

Today will be another dry and mostly sunny day, with highest temperatures of 10 to 13 degrees Celsius, in a mostly light east-to-northeast breeze.

Tonight will be dry with clear spells, and some patches of mist and fog, with lowest temperatures of 0 to 4 degrees Celsius. But it will turn unsettled and much colder from tomorrow night onwards.

Easter Sunday will be dry over much of the country with the best of the sunshine in the south. It will be cloudier further north.

Light rain or drizzle will develop in the northwest during the afternoon and will spread southwards through the evening. Highest temperatures will reach 9 to 12 degrees Celsius.

On Sunday night, very cold air will move down from the north with fresh north to northwest winds. Some wintry showers may develop overnight on north-facing coasts. Lowest temperatures of -2 to +2 degrees with frost in places,

Easter Monday will be cold and breezy with sunny spells and scattered wintry showers, these mainly over the northern half of the country. Highest temperatures of 4 to 8 degrees with fresh, gusty northerly winds.

On Monday night, scattered wintry showers will continue. Frost and icy patches will develop as temperatures fall to between -2 and +2 degrees. Tuesday will continue cold with sunny spells and scattered showers, some wintry. Highest temperatures of 5 to 8 degrees with light to moderate west to northwest winds.

Wednesday will be cloudier and less cold with some rain or drizzle. The rest of the week will be cold with showers at times, some wintry.