It’s been a frosty few days on Leeside.

But starting today, temperatures will begin to rise as the snow flurries and ice are replaced by ‘heavy and persistent’ rain.

According to Met Éireann, we can expect “occasional outbreaks of rain or drizzle” for the rest of Sunday with some bright or sunny spells and highest temperatures of 5 to 8 degrees.

It will be cloudy tonight (lowest temperatures of 1 to 5 degrees) with patchy rain and drizzle along the west coast and outbreaks of more persistent rain arriving towards morning.

Monday will bring a “breezy and wet day” as rain becomes widespread across Munster, turning heavy and persistent at times with highest temperatures of 8 to 10 degrees.

A cool start today but lingering frost and patchy fog will gradually clear this morning. Generally dull with outbreaks of rain and drizzle, most frequent in the west and northwest, but it will be brighter in the south and southeast. Highs of 4 to 8 degrees, coolest in the east. pic.twitter.com/cvj9suIKdL

— Met Éireann (@MetEireann) January 10, 2021

Forecasters say current indications suggest that rain will continue in Connacht and Munster for much of the day on Tuesday and Wednesday, ranging between 6 to 10 degrees over Munster.

What about the weekend?

There’s better news for the second half of the week, with drier conditions expected by Thursday, but it’s unlikely to last.

According to the Met Éireann monthly forecast: “There may be a drier slot following on Wednesday and/or on Thursday but overall it will stay unsettled with further rain or showers, especially for the weekend and the possibility of a developing low-pressure area coming close to Ireland towards the end of the period.

“Frost may return later in the week and over the weekend as temperatures fall back a bit. There is the risk of spot flooding in parts early in the week. Towards the end of the period there is the risk of some strong winds.”