We’ve been fooled by the daffodils again.

This week’s dry, sunny weather might have lured us into a false sense that spring had really sprung, but Met Éireann has set us straight; winter will be biting back early next week.

Forecasters say we can expect a dip in temperatures on Saturday and Sunday, before they plummet again on Monday.

“Saturday night and Sunday night will see temperatures down to near freezing or slightly below with light variable winds.” said a forecaster.

“Winds will become northerly on Monday and freshen. There’ll be scattered showers, some turning to sleet or snow on the hills and mountains. Daytime temperatures of 5 or 6 degrees in the north, still 7 or 8 degrees further to the south.”

Sleet and snow likely 

Monday night will be “very cold” with temperatures dropping well below freezing as colder air moves over the country from the north.

From Tuesday on it is expected to be colder with the chance of any showers turning to sleet and snow, although currently all indications suggest it will stay largely dry.

Short term, it will stay largely dry tonight with a mix of cloud and clear spells and lowest temperatures of zero to three degrees generally, but possibly colder locally under any clear skies with a touch of frost.