Five counties hit with snow and ice warnings as temperatures set to plummet

Five counties across Ireland have been hit with snow and ice warnings as Met Éireann say temperatures are set to plummet to as low as minus 3 in the coming days due to an 'arctic airmass'.

A Status Yellow Snow and Ice Warning has been issued for Cavan, Donegal, Monaghan, Leitrim and Sligo as wintry showers of hail, sleet and snow are expected, with some modest accumulations in places, especially on high ground.

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Impacts include hazardous travelling conditions and icy stretches. Motorists are advised to drive with caution.

The warning is in place from 12am Wednesday to 12pm Thursday.

Cold and breezy conditions expected this Tuesday night under long clear spells with scattered showers becoming increasingly confined to the north and west. Some of the showers will turn wintry with hail and sleet, and possibly some snow too, especially about higher ground.

Lowest temperatures of -1 to 3 degrees with some frost and icy patches in moderate to fresh and gusty northerly winds, stronger along exposed coasts. Winds will tend to moderate inland as the night goes on.

Wednesday

Cold with sunshine and scattered showers, some of them wintry with hail and sleet. Some snow showers are possible too, mainly over higher ground in the north and northwest. Highest temperatures of just 3 to 7 degrees, and feeling even colder with an added wind chill factor from moderate to fresh north to northwest winds, stronger near exposed coasts.

Wednesday night will bring clear spells and further scattered showers, mainly in the north and west. Some of the showers will be wintry, especially in Ulster, though the showers will become increasingly isolated overnight. Lowest temperatures of -3 to +2 degrees, coldest in the east and south, with a fairly widespread frost and some icy patches developing. Light to moderate north to northwest winds will be a little fresher near coasts.

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Thursday

Cold and frosty to begin on Thursday with sunny spells. Showers, mainly in the west and north, some of them still wintry, will become increasingly isolated as the day goes on. Highest temperatures of 3 to 7 degrees in light to moderate northwesterly breezes, still fresh at times near eastern and southern coasts.

Dry and turning very cold soon after dark on Thursday night, with clear skies and light variable breezes. Cloud will gradually thicken from the west overnight with patchy rain and drizzle developing near Atlantic coasts towards morning. Lowest temperatures of -3 to +2 degrees with frost and icy patches.

Friday

Mostly cloudy to begin on Friday with outbreaks of rain and drizzle gradually spreading eastwards over the country through the morning and afternoon. Freshening southerly winds will usher in milder Atlantic air with the rain. Afternoon highs will range from 4 or 5 degrees in the northeast to 10 or 11 degrees near western and southwestern coasts.

Remaining rain and drizzle will clear the east coast early on Friday night with clear spells and a few showers following. Moderate to fresh southerly winds will veer light to moderate southwest to west with the clearance. Lowest temperatures of 2 to 7 degrees.

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Saturday

A few brighter intervals in the east and north at first on Saturday but mostly cloudy overall with outbreaks of rain spreading from the Atlantic. Light to moderate southerly winds veering southwest to west later and increasing moderate to fresh. Highest temperatures of 7 to 12 degrees.

Further Outlook

Continuing generally unsettled with Atlantic low pressure tending to dominate. Temperatures generally close to average.