Get ready for 'cold with sharp to severe frosts' and wintry showers - Met Éireann
Unsettled weather conditions, wintry showers and the potential for frost and ice is on the horizon, according to Met Éireann.
The national meteorological service today (Friday, January 2) advised that the outlook over the coming days is for "plenty of dry and sunny weather" but that it will be cold with "sharp to severe frosts developing overnight".
According to Met Éireann, high pressure will continue to dominate for much of the coming week - which will bring largely dry conditions.
But there will also be some rain, drizzle and showers later in the week "which will turn wintry at times, especially further north".
Mean air temperatures were generally near or below normal over the past week.
"The coming week will turn even colder with some frosty nights.
"Overall, mean air temperatures will range between 1° and 5°, which is 2° to 4° below average for most," the meteorological service detailed.
Met Éireann
Today will see cloud and patchy rain over the southern half of the country clear away this morning to result in sunny spells and scattered showers.
These will be mainly located in Ulster and Connacht and there is also likely to be "some falls of sleet or snow" there.
By nightfall however, frost and ice will develop and scattered showers will continue with the potential for further falls of sleet and snow in Ulster and Connacht.
It is expected to be largely dry elsewhere but with lowest temperatures of -2° to +3°.
Saturday
There is likely to be plenty of sunshine tomorrow with scattered wintry showers continuing for Ulster and Connacht.
But it will stay mainly dry elsewhere, with highest temperatures of between 2° to 6°.
During the night, wintry showers are likely to develop in the in the north and west while temperatures could fall in some parts of the country to -4° to 0°.
Some fog or freezing fog patches may also develop, according to Met Éireann.
Sunday
The day will start cold with frost and ice slow to clear.
Overall, according to the national meteorological service, there will be "good spells of sunshine" but it will be wintry weather in Ulster, Connacht, and parts of west Munster while staying largely dry elsewhere.
Highest temperatures are likely to be between 1° to 6°.
Sunday night will be very cold and mostly dry, though well scattered wintry showers will continue in the north and west.
Temperatures will fall to between -4° to 0°.
Monday
It will start off cold on Monday with frost and ice "slow to clear", but overall it will be a mainly dry day with plenty of sunshine and with just isolated wintry showers for the north and north-west.
Nightfall will bring very cold conditions again and the potential for a few showers, mainly in the north-west.
Lowest temperatures will be in the region of -4° to 0°.
"It will turn less cold then as cloud builds from the west through the night with winds backing southerly and strengthening for Atlantic coasts by morning as outbreaks of rain move into the west and south-west," Met Éireann added.
Tuesday
Tuesday will likely see outbreaks of rain move south-eastwards across the country through the day, although there will be dry intervals too.
Temperatures will stay between 2° to 6°.
Outlook
According to Met Éireann, there is "some uncertainty in the outlook but indications are for more unsettled conditions through the rest of the week".
Little rainfall is forecast over the coming days but it will be cold with frosty nights , so drying conditions will remain "fairly poor overall".
However, field conditions have improved in recent days with trafficability beginning to be possible in well and moderately drained soils.
"Poorly drained soils remain saturated or waterlogged.
"A slight deterioration is expected over the coming days with slightly more precipitation forecast, mainly in northern and north-western parts," the national meteorological service said.
