Temperatures plunge to -7.5C overnight as warnings remain in place before weekend thaw

Ireland's arctic blast is now on its sixth day as the country experiences freezing overnight conditions, with temperatures dropping as low as -7.5C in Mullingar, Co Westmeath.

The bitter cold snap has prompted multiple weather warnings in recent days with a Status Orange alert for low temperatures and ice, which began at 6pm on Wednesday, set to remain in effect until 11am this morning. Dangerous travel conditions and potential disruptions are expected as the freezing weather continues.

Other parts of Ireland also recorded sub-zero temperatures, including -7C in Athenry, Co Galway and -6.7C in Oak Park, Co Carlow highlighting the widespread nature of the country's big freeze.

A Status Yellow warning for low temperatures and ice remains in place until midday on Friday for all counties except Donegal, with very cold conditions, widespread frost, ice and lying snow forecast.

Patches of freezing fog are also expected to linger in parts of the country, further complicating travel. 

Met Eireann are forecasting a "very cold" Thursday morning with widespread frost and ice lingering. Sunny spells will develop later with just a scattering of cloud in a cold northerly breeze. A few isolated wintry showers will drift in over Connacht and Ulster for a time, but elsewhere should hold dry with highs really struggling at just 0 to 4 degrees.

Thursday night is set to be very cold and drywith frost setting in early. Cloud will push in from the south later with outbreaks of rain across Munster and winds staying light. Met Eireann says it will be "bitterly cold", with lowest temperatures of -7 to -2 degrees, with the lowest temperatures occurring early in the night. Frost, ice and black ice patches are expected, they warned. 

Friday will start cloudy with rain spreading from the southwest early in the morning, before turning to sleet and snow along high ground across Munster and Connacht. It will stay largely dry across Leinster and Ulster, with the highest temperatures of 1 to 5 degrees.

Friday night will be quite an overcast night with outbreaks of rain and drizzle. In some good news, the forecaster predicts it won't be as cold as previous nights, with lowest temperatures of 0 to 4 degrees with light winds.

The break in Ireland's artic blast looks set to arrive on Saturday when temperatures range from 4 to 8 degrees during the day with some isolated bright or sunny spells developing, and it should stay dry through the afternoon. Saturday night will be mostly dry with some patchy drizzle about the western coasts, but it will be a milder night than previously, with lowest temperatures of 2 to 6 degrees.