Met Éireann weekend snow update as 'Arctic airmass' bears down on Ireland

Met Éireann have issued a major update on their snow forecast for next week with a big change expected in our weather from Monday.

Met Éireann have already issued a weather advisory for the entire country for the impending cold spell. Their outlook for the week ahead says our weather looks like "turning much colder next week, with an arctic airmass moving down across the country and with temperatures well below the seasonal normal.

"An area of low pressure system will track eastwards across the country on Monday bringing some heavy rain, and also some sleet and the likelihood of some snow, mainly for Ulster. Then after that clears to the east on Monday night, the spell of very cold and wintry weather will follow and will then persist throughout much of next week," they added.

Between now and then, we will see a mix of clear spells as well as rain and drizzle across the country.

Met Éireann say on Saturday, "rain and drizzle will move southwards over Munster and south Leinster and will clear this afternoon. Bright or sunny spells further north will extend to all areas. There'll be a few showers in near the north coast. Highest temperatures of 8 to 12 degrees with light to moderate west to northwest winds.

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"Tonight [Saturday] will be mainly dry with clear spells and a few showers in Ulster. Cloud will increase from the west overnight. Rain and drizzle will develop in the west and northwest by dawn. Lowest temperatures of 1 to 6 degrees generally, though less cold in western coastal parts in light to moderate westerly winds.

"Sunday will be mostly cloudy. Outbreaks of rain will mainly affect the northern half of the country thought the morning and will extend further south through the afternoon and evening. Highest temperatures of 7 to 11 degrees with light to moderate mainly westerly breezes.

"Sunday night will be cloudy with outbreaks of rain and it will become rather breezy for a time, especially in the west and south where winds will increase moderate to fresh westerly. Lowest temperatures generally of 4 to 9 degrees, but colder in Ulster with lows there of 1 to 4 degrees and winds will be lighter further north too," the forecast continues.

The major change comes on Monday as temperatures plunge and the risk of snow and sleet increases.

"An area of low pressure moves across Ireland on Monday bringing outbreaks of rain, heavy at times," the latest forecast explains.

"There'll be some falls of sleet too, mainly further north, with some snow possible too, mainly for northern hills. Highest temperatures of 4 to 12 degrees (north to south) and breezy with moderate to fresh cyclonic variable winds, strong at times in coastal parts.

"The rain, sleet and snow will clear eastwards on Monday night with clear spells following and with a cold arctic airmass moving down over Ireland. So it'll turn very cold on Monday night with frost and ice forming as temperatures fall back to between -3 and +2 degrees, with winds becoming mainly northerly and decreasing light to moderate. A few wintry showers will follow into parts of the north and west."

Beyond that from Tuesday to Friday, Met Éireann says "the arctic airmass will persist for the rest of the working week, bringing a mix of sunshine and scattered wintry showers of rain, hail, sleet and snow.

"The showers will be most frequent across the north and parts of the west and southwest, but some will make their way further inland and to the east at times too. Some lying snow is expected, especially over the hills, but not exclusively.

"There will be widespread frost and ice at night, persisting by day in places, with some hazardous travelling conditions. It will be much colder than average for the time of year with typical daytime temperatures ranging from around 2 to 6 degrees whilst night-time temperatures will range from around -4 to zero degrees, possibly lower locally.

"Winds will be mostly moderate or fresh north to northwesterly, stronger at times in coastal parts of the north and west, so there'll be an added wind chill factor at times too.

"There's uncertainty in the forecast for next weekend, with the possibility of some mild and very wet and windy weather but there's the possibility that the cold wintry snap will continue," the forecast concluded.