Cold snap returns next week with forecast lows of minus four overnight – The Irish Times

The recent extreme cold snap is over, but the cold weather will return next week, possibly there for St Patrick’s Day.

Temperatures fell to minus 3.4 degrees overnight at Markree Castle in Co Sligo and the northern half of the island remains cold with highs of just two to five degrees.

There will be a dramatic rise in temperatures on Saturday afternoon as warmer air traverses the country, and parts of the south will see highs of between nine and twelve degrees today. However, the warm air will not reach the northern counties until Sunday, leaving Ulster with a risk of frost overnight.

The mild weather will last until Monday evening, after which the icy temperatures of the past few days will briefly return. Monday night will see lows of minus two and Tuesday will be a cold day.

Temperatures will fall below freezing with a biting north-west wind and a chance of sleet and snow in most parts late Tuesday. Tuesday night is expected to be very cold with lows of minus three to four degrees in the western half of the country and a chance of snow and ice.

The last of the snow will disappear on Wednesday morning to be replaced by unsettled weather.

Met Éireann forecaster Andrew Doran-Sherlock said the forecast for the St Patrick’s Day weekend remains uncertain as there is cold air in the north and warmer air in the south. “Anytime rain can meet cold air there’s a chance of sleet or snow, but as it stands right now that’s most likely on high ground,” he said.

“It doesn’t look like it’s going to be anywhere near as widespread lately. It looks like there might be some rain in the south and east and the coldest in the north and west, but not the cold we’ve had lately.”