Heavy showers ahead as Met Éireann forecasts temperatures to drop to -3 degrees

Heavy showers and gusty conditions are on the cards for Ireland over the coming days before polar temperatures are set to return with a drop to -3 degrees predicted in Met Eireann's latest forecast.

The national forecaster has predicted wintry conditions with frost, hail, ice and sleet in parts but Ireland looks set to escape without snow this week.

Showers nationally may be heavy in places with gusty winds, before temperatures are set to plummet to as low as -3 degrees.

According to the national forecaster, today will be a mix of sunny spells and scattered showers, most frequent over the western half of the country. Some of the showers will be heavy and there is a chance of hail and isolated thunderstorms. Sleet is possible on high ground too. Light to moderate west to southwest winds at first, but becoming breezy later as winds increase moderate to fresh and gusty. Highest temperatures of 5 to 8 degrees.

Tonight will be cold with frost and possibly ice as temperatures fall to between -1 and +3 degrees. There will be clear spells and scattered showers, most frequent in the west. Some will be heavy with hail, and sleet is possible on high ground.

Friday, February 23

Cool with sunny spells and scattered showers, most frequent in the west. Some will be heavy with hail, and sleet is possible on high ground. Light to moderate west to southwest winds, occasionally increasing fresh and gusty. Highest temperatures of 5 to 8 degrees.

Scattered showers will continue on Friday night, turning wintry on high ground. It will be cold with lowest temperatures of -2 to +3 degrees, so frost and ice are possible, particularly in northern areas. Light to moderate southwest to west winds, occasionally fresh to strong and gusty in the west, and becoming northwesterly overnight.

Saturday, February 24

A lot of dry and bright weather on Saturday as rain showers become isolated. Cloud will increase in the southwest during the evening. Highest temperatures of 6 to 10 degrees with a light to moderate northwesterly wind.

Most areas are expected to remain dry on Saturday night, however there is a chance that rain and drizzle will move into the southwest and south. Cold and frosty across most of the country, with lowest temperatures of -3 to +2 degrees. Some icy stretches are possible. Areas of mist and fog will form in light, variable winds. 

Sunday, February 25

Mostly dry at first, although there is a chance of some rain or drizzle in the south. Scattered showers will develop in the northwest during the morning and will track southeast in the afternoon, becoming isolated. Highest temperatures of 6 to 8 degrees in a light to moderate north to northeast wind.

Sunday night will be mostly dry and clear, with just isolated showers. Lowest temperatures of -1 to +3 degrees with a light to moderate north to northwest wind.