Met Éireann warns of snow, ice and wintry showers ahead of weekend

The national forecaster has warned of snow, ice and wintry showers ahead of the weekend.

It comes after a status-yellow snow and ice warning was in place for Donegal, Leitrim and Sligo until 11am on Thursday. A status-yellow ice warning was also in place for Northern Ireland until 10am.

The national forecaster has said the wintry showers will bring a risk of frost on Thursday night, especially in the west and north of the country, leading to some “hazardous” road conditions.

However, the cold snap is not expected to continue into the weekend.

New maternity hospital to provide all procedures allowed under Irish law

---

Gardaí investigating false imprisonment of man in Finglas, Dublin

---

State’s plan for sustainable farming ‘lacks ambition’ on biodiversity

---

Inflation: €450m package to be unveiled with fuel and electricity relief expected

---

Thursday

A cold morning was expected on Thursday, with a possibility of snow in upland areas in the northwest.

Met Éireann forecaster Mark Bowe said there will be "some showers feeding in from the northwest, they will begin to die out as we move into the afternoon with plenty of bright, clear spells developing, mainly in the southeast".

Showers will be frequent and heaviest in Connacht and Ulster where some will continue to fall as sleet or possibly snow, mainly on hills, according to Met Éireann. Isolated thunderstorms or hail showers are possible too.

“We’re expecting a sharp frost with icy stretches overnight tonight,” Mr Bowe said, with temperatures dropping to between -3 and 1 degrees.

Mr Bowe said snow in upland areas is “already beginning to die away and showers are easing away”.

Highest temperatures overall of 4 to 7 degrees are expected, with gusty northwest winds and added wind chills.

Friday

Widespread frost and ice will persist leading to hazardous surfaces on Friday morning, said Met Éireann.

“Clouds will start to build from the west with outbreaks of rain pushing in from the west in the morning and afternoon, and that will spread across the rest of the country by evening,” Mr Bowe said. “It will be a wet day for most places throughout Friday.”

It will be a windy day from the afternoon onwards, with gales developing on Atlantic coasts. Highest temperatures of 5 to 8 degrees are expected, coldest in Ulster.

As the weekend unfolds, the weather is expected to be unsettled with wet, breezy and windy weather, said Met Éireann.

Saturday

It will be a windy day with widespread rain, becoming heavy in places, on Saturday. Highest temperature of 8 to 11 degrees are expected with gusty winds.

Showers will continue into Saturday night and gradually ease, especially in eastern areas.

Sunday

On Sunday, the national forecaster has said there is some “uncertainty” with the forecast, however, there will likely be scattered showers moving up from the south of the country.

Highest temperatures of 7 to 10 degrees are expected, and any rain on Sunday night will clear to good, clear spells and scattered showers.