Hot chocolate season: officially open.

Winter has officially arrived in Cork as Met Éireann predicts a chilly week and an arctic airmass moves down over the country on Tuesday night.

Today, Monday, any early morning mist or fog will melt away to reveal a crisp, bright day with plenty of sunshine. It’ll stay mostly dry, though you might catch the odd light shower. Temperatures will top out at a cool 6 to 10°C, a gentle reminder that the warmer layers are now essential.

Tonight, things take a wintry turn. We’ll start off dry with clear skies, but clouds are set to creep in with patchy rain and drizzle spreading across the country. Frost and icy spots are likely too, with temperatures dipping as low as -1°C.

Tomorrow: Tuesday, a wet start will soon give way to sunshine and scattered showers, though it’ll become increasingly breezy. Winds will strengthen through the afternoon and flip to a northerly direction, ushering in much colder air. Daytime temperatures stay around 6 to 10°C, but that wind chill will make it feel far frostier.

Looking ahead

An Arctic airmass is on the way from tomorrow night, bringing proper winter vibes across the country. Expect cold, bright spells mixed with showers — and some of those could turn wintry with hail, sleet, or even snow, especially over northern hills and higher ground.

Frost and ice are set to become frequent midweek, and Wednesday looks particularly cold, with top temperatures only 4 to 7°C and a biting wind making it feel even chillier.

There’ll still be sunshine around, but you’ll definitely want your hat, scarf, gloves before heading out.

By the end of the week, conditions are expected to turn a little milder but also more unsettled, with rain likely making a comeback.