It’s been a mild week so far.

But Cork is in for weather conditions more typical of January in the second half of the week, as Met Éireann predicts more heavy rain and a sharp drop in temperatures ahead of the weekend.

“Tonight will be cold with clear spells and scattered showers, which will become increasingly wintry overnight.” said a forecaster. We can expect lowest temperatures of -1 to +1 degrees with light to moderate westerly breezes and frost and icy patches in many areas by morning.

Thursday will be “very cold with sunshine and showers, some of hail with a risk of thunder” and highest temperatures of 5 or 6 degrees with moderate west to northwest breezes.

Heavy rain in S Munster & Leinster today, turning to sleet or snow in parts of Leinster this afternoon, especially on high ground. Sunny spells and scattered showers elsewhere. Highest temperatures this afternoon of 3 to 6 degrees with light to moderate northwest breezes. pic.twitter.com/Uow7cEowgh

— Met Éireann (@MetEireann) January 20, 2021

While Thursday night will be dry in many areas with clear spells, frost will develop in many areas across Munster with lowest temperatures of -3 to + 2 degrees.

Saturday and Sunday will continue very cold with sunny spells and scattered wintry showers, with highest temperatures ranging from 2 to 6 degrees. Forecasters are predicting widespread frost on both nights with temperatures dropping to -4 degrees in places.

Current indications for next week suggest that Monday will continue very cold with further wintry showers and frost at night.