Ireland is set to face a sharp drop in temperatures and blustery weather conditions this week, with Met Éireann forecasting lows of 3°C tonight and the potential for snow on high ground later in the week. While this cold snap will take over the whole island, the south-western counties will be mostly impacted.
A series of low-pressure systems are expected to bring strong winds and heavy rain, though the storm initially feared for Thursday now appears likely to miss Ireland, instead veering south towards France.
Weather Alerts Ireland confirmed the update, saying: “An update on the storm that was possible for Thursday. So this system has moved further south and will likely impact France with strong winds and heavy rain.”
However, another weather front is expected to move in from the north on Friday, bringing strong winds and heavy showers. “Some strong winds and heavy rain are expected especially for the north of the country with some warnings possible,” Weather Alerts Ireland added. “Going to get chillier this week also as colder air pushes in from the west… some snow on the high mountains is possible on Thursday as low as 700 metres!”
Carlow Weather’s Alan O’Reilly has also cautioned about the wind chill, warning that it will make conditions feel even colder than the thermometer suggests. “A short blast of cooler air heading our way from Thursday with a windchill that will make it feel a lot cooler than recent weeks,” he said. “The worst of the wind and rain will miss Ireland but still very breezy and showery with some heavy local showers.”
Today will begin cloudy across much of the country, though sunny spells are expected to develop later in the day. O’Reilly added: “Cloudy Tuesday morning but sunny spells developing through the day. Showers heaviest in the morning in the North but then dying out.”
Tonight will remain mostly dry with long clear spells, though coastal showers are possible along the north, west, and south. Met Éireann forecasts lows of 3°C to 8°C, with light to moderate westerly winds, and said patchy mist and fog may form overnight.
Wednesday will bring scattered showers, heaviest in the north, along with sunny intervals. Later in the day, a band of rain will move in from the south, occasionally turning heavy. Daytime highs will reach 9°C to 13°C, with light to moderate southwesterly winds.
Rain will clear northeastwards on Wednesday night, with further showers following from the west. Temperatures will dip to 4°C to 8°C, accompanied by light northerly or variable winds.
As the week progresses, conditions will remain “mixed and changeable,” according to Met Éireann. Thursday is expected to start bright and clear, though showers may become thundery, especially in northern and northwestern areas, with sunny spells developing elsewhere. Temperatures will stay between 9°C and 12°C.
Friday will be blustery and unsettled, with heavy showers continuing in the north and west, and the possibility of isolated hail showers. Highs will remain around 9°C to 12°C, with fresh to strong northwesterly winds.
Saturday will bring cooler air once again, with scattered showers from the north and daytime temperatures of 7°C to 11°C, while Sunday will see rain spreading from the northwest, keeping things chilly at 7°C to 12°C.
While the worst of the storm appears to have passed Ireland by, forecasters are advising the public to prepare for a cold, windy, and changeable week ahead.
