Met Éireann forecasts more wintery weather this weekend

We hope you haven’t packed away your winter woollies just yet; Met Éireann says we’re in for more bad weather this weekend.

A false sense of security

Many of us here at IMAGE HQ were tricked into a false sense of security last week. A spell of unexpectedly warm weather made us feel like spring had sprung; some of us even dared to wear dresses with bare legs.

Alas, we were duped. On the one-year anniversary of last year’s Beast from the East, Ireland was delivered a fresh flurry of snow and hailstones. Our light, floral numbers were re-packed away in favour of heavy thermals. What’s worse, this cold weather is set to continue. Sigh.

The forecast

According to Met Éireann, the rest of the week will be bitterly cold; with icy winds and a strong possibility of sleet and frost.

Wednesday and Thursday

Wednesday will see outbreaks of heavy rain, particularly in Ulster, with temperatures averaging at 5 Celsius. Come night time, it will be blustery with showery rain; some of which will be heavy at times in Ulster, north Leinster and parts of the southwest.

Tonight, lowest temperatures will range from 1 to 5 Celsius; with fresh-to-strong, west-to-northwest winds, and gales expected on exposed coasts.

While Thursday will be mostly bright, there will also be heavy showers and a strong possibility of hailstones. Fresh, gusty winds will make the air feel colder than it is – so be sure to wrap up warm.

Photo: Met Éireann

Friday

Friday will be dry to start, but cloud and rain will develop in the west before spreading across the country. The rain will become heavy in places and is expected to fall as sleet on high ground. Again, it’ll be windy, and lowest temperatures will range between 1 and 5 Celsius.

Saturday and Sunday

Met Éireann says, “Saturday will be blustery with a band of showery rain moving eastwards across the country, falling as sleet in places, especially on high ground in Ulster and Leinster.”

Highest temperatures of 5 to 10 degrees are expected during the day, forecasters say, “but becoming very cold in the evening with showers turning wintry overnight, and with frost developing in many areas”.

You’ll need your coat on Sunday too, as the day will be a very cold and blustery, with some sunny spells and wintry showers. Expect “highest temperatures of 4 to 7 degrees,” Met Éireann advises, “with fresh, gusty, westerly winds, which will be strong in coastal areas. Frost will develop on Sunday night.”

If you ask us, it’s a weekend for relaxing in front of the fire.

Photo by Erik Witsoe on Unsplash

More like this:

• Four engrossing books worth reading during cold winter weather… here.
• Six brilliant bad weather movies to watch during winter… here.