SNOW SHOWERS are set to make a return to the North and northwest by the end of the week as temperatures drop back to freezing or low single figures, according to Met Éireann.
Early indications suggest extremely cold weather in store next weekend, following relatively mild mid-week conditions, Met Éireann forecaster Jim O’Brien said. “It will certainly be getting much colder by the end of the week with temperatures dropping by day to the low single figures. For Friday we’re looking at temperatures of zero to plus four, and Saturday and Sunday are looking much the same.”
While temperatures will again plummet, reaching minus five at night on Friday, most of the country is expected to be free from snow. The North and northwest are set to see wintery showers of snow, sleet or hail, but forecasts suggest blanket coverage of snow is not likely, Mr O’Brien said.
Daytime temperatures up to and including Wednesday, while below normal, should remain high enough for the thaw to continue. But any snow remaining on higher ground is unlikely to melt in the coming days.
There will be lots of dry weather for the first few days of the week, but then rain will pass over the country on Thursday, most likely falling as wintery showers in the North and northwest. Temperatures are expected to reach five to eight degrees on Thursday, but are expected to plummet that night to as low as minus five.
While main roads in most parts of the country have been cleared of snow and ice for several days, ungritted footpaths and local roads became more hazardous with snow melting during the day and turning to ice at night.
In Donegal treacherous ice sent cars skidding off the roads yesterday as council engineers were caught unawares by an unexpected heavy overnight frost.
Gardaí said council gritters were contacted by lunchtime yesterday to grit a number of roads covered with black ice.
Water restrictions remain in place in Dublin city and county and in Wicklow and Kildare until this morning at least.