Temperatures are due to drop dramatically by Sunday.

That’s according to Met Éireann meteorologist Liz Walsh, who says we can expect the weather to turn progressively colder from early on Sunday morning, with the cold spell now looking likely to last well into next week.

Today, Met Éireann issued a Weather Advisory for Ireland, warning that “Sunday, Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday will be very cold with temperatures in low single figures by day and with sharp or severe frosts and icy patches at night.”

Hazardous conditions are expected on roads and paths from 6am Sunday morning until 6pm on Wednesday, February 10th.

Weather Advisory for Ireland.
Valid 06:00 Sunday 07/02/2021 to 18:00 Wednesday 10/02/2021
Issued 13:00 Friday 05/02/2021.https://t.co/JAa97a0t2o

— Met Éireann (@MetEireann) February 5, 2021

“The origin of the cold air over Scandinavia will bring a northeasterly or easterly component to the wind-flow over Ireland.” Ms Walsh explained.

“That wind will be especially noticeable on Sunday and Monday with gusty east to northeast winds likely to produce a significant wind-chill factor.”

“Daytime temperatures are expected to struggle in the low single figures, generally 1 to 3 degrees Celsius, which means any frost or ice that forms at night will be slow to clear, if it clears at all, so the risk of icy roads and footpaths will increase.”

Snowfall is expected in the form of showers from Sunday onwards, but more especially later on Monday and during Tuesday. While any showers are likely to be restricted to eastern parts of Leinster and Ulster initially, a few may push further inland during Tuesday.

‘There is still a high degree of uncertainty in the forecast from Wednesday 10th February onwards, but it looks as though Atlantic frontal systems will attempt to push milder air in from the south to displace the cold air in situ over Ireland.” added Walsh.

Weekend weather 

It will be chilly but mainly dry tonight, with lowest temperatures of between -1 and +3 degrees.

Saturday will be cold too, but largely cloudy and dry, with a few bright or sunny intervals and the chance of an isolated shower and highest afternoon temperatures of 3 to 6 degrees.

Some frost and ice are likely on Saturday night when temperatures drop to -1 to +3 degrees and it will be colder again on Sunday with highest temperatures of just 2 to 5 degrees.

According to Met Éireann, it will be “very cold with a widespread frost and ice” on Sunday night.

Temperatures are set to plummet to -4 by Tuesday as a ‘bitterly cold and wintry’ spell continues into next week.