Cold snap to hit farms later this week, with snow in store

There will be a mixture of sunny spells and scattered showers this week, with temperatures dropping as the week goes on with falls of snow likely, according to Met Eireann.

Rain will clear the east coast this morning, Monday, and the day is forecast to brighten.

However, showers are forecast to be heavy across the western half of the country but eastern counties will often be dry through the day.

It looks set to be fresh day with highest temperatures of 5 to 8 degrees and moderate to fresh westerly winds, gusty along Atlantic coasts.

Tonight will be cold with scattered showers continuing in the early night, but becoming mostly confined to the west and north overnight, according to Met Eireann.

Lowest temperatures tonight will range between 3 to 6 degrees with moderate to fresh west to northwest winds.

Drying and spraying conditions will be moderate to poor this week while moderately drained soils are expected to deteriorate this week.

Tuesday

Tomorrow, Tuesday, is forecast to be breezy with a mix of sunny spells and occasional showers.

It will be a milder day than Monday with highest temperatures of 9 to 11 degrees and mostly moderate westerly breezes.

Tuesday night looks set to continue mild with scattered showers continuing, mainly in the west.

Wednesday

Wednesday is forecast to be a blustery day with sunny spells and scattered showers as highest temperatures range between 7 to 9 degrees with fresh gusty westerly winds.

The winds are to become strong along western and northern coasts, but will gradually ease in the evening and early night.

There will be a noticeable change on Wednesday night as very cold air moves in from the northwest, Met Eireann has said.

Scattered showers will become increasingly wintry with sleet or snow likely, mainly in parts of Ulster and Connacht.

Frost will develop in many areas also as lowest temperatures range between minus 1 to plus 1 degrees.

Thursday

Current indications suggest that Thursday will be a bitterly cold day with temperatures only rising to between 3 and 6 degrees in moderate to fresh westerly winds.

A mix of sunny spells and scattered wintry showers, most frequent over the western half of the country are forecast.

The highest risk of snow will be in the morning and during the evening and night, while frost is forecast to develop on Thursday night.