Winter weather to hit this week with snow

Weather update

Expect snow and frosty nights this week as Winter finally arrives.

Cold with frost and icy patches over the coming days. Wintry showers for some. That's the latest weather outlook from Met Éireann.

Today, rain in Munster and Connacht will spread northeastwards, becoming widespread later this afternoon. It will be heavy at times will turn to sleet or snow in parts of Ulster and north Connacht this evening. Afternoon highs of 3 to 6 degrees over the northern half of the country and 7 to 12 degrees elsewhere with light to moderate easterly or variable winds.

Tonight, there will be further spells of rain in all areas. Sleet and snow will affect parts of Ulster and north Connacht with accumulations possible, especially on hills. It will become dry in north Ulster by dawn with frost and ice developing.

Lowest temperatures of -1 to +5 degrees, coldest in Ulster and Connacht. Moderate easterly winds over the northern half of the country and fresh westerly winds further south.

Falls of rain, sleet and snow early on Tuesday, will move southwards and turn mainly to rain and sleet and will clear to the south during the afternoon. Sunny spells will follow with scattered wintry showers in the north. Highest temperatures of 3 to 6 degrees generally and from 5 to 8 degrees in Munster. Winds will become moderate northerly as rain clears.

Tuesday night will be dry in most areas with clear spells. Wintry showers will affect northern parts of Ulster and Connacht. Lowest temperatures of -3 to +1 degrees with frost and icy patches.

Wednesday will be cold and mainly dry with sunny spells. Frost will gradually clear, but will linger in some sheltered areas. Some wintry showers, mainly in western and north parts of Connacht and Ulster. Highs of 3 to 5 degrees generally, with mostly moderate west to northwest winds.

Wednesday night will be dry and clear in many parts but scattered wintry showers will continue in parts of the west and north. Lowest temperatures of -3 to +1 degrees with frost and icy patches and mainly light to moderate northwest or variable breezes.

Frost and ice will again be slow to thaw on Thursday, perhaps lingering all day in some parts. Many areas will be dry and cold with spells of sunshine but scattered showers of rain, hail, sleet and snow will affect western and northern parts. Afternoon highs of 2 to 5 degrees with mostly moderate northwest winds, fresh at times near coasts.

Many areas will remain dry overnight on Thursday with clear spells. Scattered wintry showers will continue to affect mainly the west and north, with a few spreading elsewhere. Lowest temperatures of -2 to +2 degrees with frost and icy patches. Light to moderate westerly winds, fresh at times on eastern and northern coasts.

Friday will continue cold and mainly dry. It will be somewhat cloudier with wintry showers in the west. Afternoon highs of 2 to 6 degrees, a with light to moderate southwest breezes.

On Friday night, it will become wet and windy as persistent or heavy rain move eastwards, possibly turning to sleet or snow for a time and accompanied by fresh to strong southerly winds.

Saturday will continue windy with further spells of rain or showers, winds will ease on Sunday.