We were just getting used to the spring sunshine.

But it looks like wintery weather is returning for the week ahead, with temperatures plummeting as low as -4 in some parts of Ireland by Friday.

Here in Cork, Met Éireann says Easter Monday will be “a cold day with brisk northerly winds feeding down some well scattered wintry showers”.

While most areas will remain dry with good sunny spells, it will be “unseasonably cold with highest temperatures of just 5 to 7 degrees Celsius. There will be an added wind chill factor too in mostly fresh northerly winds.”

Monday night will be mostly dry with long clear spells, however, the odd wintry showers may occur later tonight. Forecasters say it will be coldest in Munster with frost in sheltered areas especially and lowest temperatures of -2 to +1 degrees.

We can expect another unseasonably cold day on Tuesday with brisk winds and more wintry showers. Highest temperatures will range between 5 to 7 degrees.

Hail, sleet and snow

The rest of the week is looking “colder than normal” with some unusually late-season frost.

“The cold airmass will introduce the chance of wintry showers of hail, sleet and snow on Easter Monday and Easter Tuesday, with temperatures limited to around 3 to 7 Celsius,” said Met Éireann meteorologist, Matthew Martin.

“Temperatures overnight will widely fall close to freezing with a touch of frost in places, which could cause problems for gardeners so take care to cover vulnerable plants and protect from frost damage.”