Status Yellow low temperature and ice warning issued for the whole countrySnow-ice warning also in place tonight for Cavan, Donegal, Monaghan, Leitrim and SligoTemperatures will plummet below freezing this week, with the potential of snow in some partsTemperatures this week will be a few degrees below the average for November
Met Éireann has warned of very cold temperatures with widespread frost and icy stretches. The warning will remain in place until 10am Wednesday.
Hazardous conditions on roads and paths are expected along with some travel disruption.
Meanwhile, a snow-ice warning for counties Cavan, Donegal, Monaghan, Leitrim and Sligo will kick in at 7pm this evening and last until 8am tomorrow morning.
Frost and ice are likely with potential for sleet, snow and hail. Weather forecasters are warning of poor visibility and difficult travelling conditions.
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It comes as the weather this week will see temperatures drop notably, ranging from 3 and 6 degrees over the northern half of the country while elsewhere will see from 7 to 12 degrees.
7-Day Weather Forecast: 18th November – 24th November 2024
Munster and Connacht are likely to see rain today, spreading northeastwards and becoming widespread later this afternoon.
The rain might be heavy at times and is expected to turn to sleet or snow in parts of Ulster and north Connacht this evening.
The rain will continue overnight in all areas.
It will become dry in north Ulster by dawn, with developing frost and ice.
Temperatures will drop to -1 to +5 degrees, remaining the coldest in Ulster and Connacht.
Met Éireann meteorologist Brandon Creagh said the low-pressure system to the north-west of the country might bring rain today.
“As it hits the cold air, which is just to the north of us, it’s going to bring some wintry falls,” he said.
These are expected to affect the north-western counties, particularly Donegal and the northern hills of Sligo, which is now expected to see some snow or sleet in the evening.
“Wintry falls are mostly going to be confined to higher ground, so snowfall is not looking like it’s going to be a widespread thing,” Mr Creagh said.
“Once that low pressure moves away during the week, we get put into a sharp northerly airflow, which is going to pull down some Arctic air.
“We will get some significant frost and ice where any lying water is around those nights.
“Showers will come down in that northern airflow, but it’s looking like they’ll stop in the northern counties.
“So Donegal getting some falls of sleet or snow during the week, but it’s looking like it’s mostly isolated showers and mostly over the hills.”
Today’s News in 90 Seconds – November 18th
Although the weather will turn cold this week, it will be dry for most of the country.
Meanwhile, Ireland has had unusually mild weather this month, which has been “a good few degrees above the average November temperatures”, Mr Creagh said.
But temperatures this week will be a few degrees below the average for November.
“It’s not overly not normal to see these temperatures in November but they are below the seasonal normal,” the meteorologist added.
Tomorrow, Wednesday and Thursday are likely to be the coldest nights of the week, as overnight temperatures will drop below freezing to between -2C and -4C.
Falls of rain, sleet and snow will move southwards on Tuesday morning and clear to the south during the afternoon, followed by sunny spells and scattered wintry showers in the north.
Temperatures on Tuesday will range between 3 and 6 degrees across the country and from 5 to 8 degrees in Munster.
The models showed low-pressure systems coming in from the west from the next weekend onwards, which might mark a possible return of “milder, wetter and windier” weather, Mr Creagh added.