Subzero temperatures return with hail, snow and thunderstorms over coming days

Subzero temperatures at night are forecast to continue over the weekend

Temperatures will drop below freezing tonight as the country enters a cold spell that will likely see snow, sleet, hailstones, and thunderstorms in the next 24 hours.

Sunny spells this morning will be interrupted by scattered showers and sleet in some areas along the west coast, while hail and thunderstorms are in some parts of the country.

Frost and ice are expected tonight as temperatures drop below zero, with hail, sleet or snow possible in higher areas. Subzero temperatures at night are forecast to continue over the weekend.

Here’s the latest forecast for the coming days from Met Éireann:

Thursday

Today there will be a mix of sunny spells and scattered showers, most frequent over the western half of the country. Some of the showers will be heavy and there is a chance of hail and isolated thunderstorms. Sleet is possible on high ground too. Light to moderate west to southwest winds at first, but becoming breezy later as winds increase moderate to fresh and gusty. Highest temperatures of 5 to 8 degrees.

Tonight will be cold with frost and possibly ice as temperatures fall to between -1 and +3 degrees. There will be clear spells and scattered showers, most frequent in the west. Some will be heavy with hail, and sleet is possible on high ground. Light to moderate west to southwest winds, occasionally increasing fresh and gusty.

Friday

Cool with sunny spells and scattered showers, most frequent in the west. Some will be heavy with hail, and sleet is possible on high ground. Light to moderate west to southwest winds, occasionally increasing fresh and gusty. Highest temperatures of 5 to 8 degrees.

Scattered showers will continue on Friday night, turning wintry on high ground. It will be cold with lowest temperatures of -2 to +3 degrees, so frost and ice are possible, particularly in northern areas. Light to moderate southwest to west winds, occasionally fresh to strong and gusty in the west, and becoming northwesterly overnight.

Saturday

A lot of dry and bright weather on Saturday as rain showers become isolated. Cloud will increase in the southwest during the evening. Highest temperatures of 6 to 10 degrees with a light to moderate northwesterly wind.

Most areas are expected to remain dry on Saturday night, however there is a chance that rain and drizzle will move into the southwest and south. Cold and frosty across most of the country, with lowest temperatures of -3 to +2 degrees. Some icy stretches are possible. Areas of mist and fog will form in light, variable winds.

Sunday

Mostly dry at first, although there is a chance of some rain or drizzle in the south. Scattered showers will develop in the northwest during the morning and will track southeast in the afternoon, becoming isolated. Highest temperatures of 6 to 8 degrees in a light to moderate north to northeast wind.

Mostly dry and clear that night, with just isolated showers. Lowest temperatures of -1 to +3 degrees with a light to moderate north to northwest wind.

Monday

Mostly dry with sunny spells at first, although cloud is likely to increase through the day. Highest temperatures of 6 to 9 degrees with a light to moderate northwesterly wind

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