Snow and sleet on the way as temperatures plummet

PUT the sun lounger away, winter is set to return this week.

According to Met Éireann, snow and sleet, unfortunately, are on the cards.

The national forecaster has predicted temperatures will plummet to sub-zero levels for the next three nights as the cold sweeps in following a warm weekend.

Last night, the country was warned to expect scattered outbreaks of light rain, with sleet and snow expected in Ulster later in the night and lows of -1C.

Met Éireann predicts today is likely to be breezy but cold, although there will be a lot of dry, bright weather. More scattered showers of rain and sleet will affect high ground in Ulster and north Connacht.

Tonight is expected to be particularly cold, with light sleet and snow becoming widespread and temperatures dropping as low as -3C. ‘Severe frost’ is likely to form overnight, so motorists driving tomorrow morning should beware icy stretches on what is otherwise likely to be a bright day with some showers of sleet and snow, particularly in the north.

Met Éireann said there could be a possibility of a longer spell in the afternoon and evening in the west, with temperatures maxing out at 8C.

Temperatures will again threaten to fall to -3C tomorrow night, with more severe frost, but Wednesday will see conditions pick up, although there will be persistent rain in the west and north-west. Wednesday night will be relatively warm, with temperatures of 2-5C and more rain, but

Thursday will see only a bit of drizzle in the morning and highs of 10C before ‘a band of heavier rain’ sweeps in later in the afternoon. Showers will develop over much of Ulster and Connacht on Thursday night with wintry showers moving in from the north on Friday morning.

‘Highest temperatures of 5 to 9 degrees with moderate northerly winds,’ Met Éireann said. ‘Very cold on Friday with a few wintry showers in the North but dry in most areas. Temperatures falling to 0 degrees or a degree or two below.’