Met Eireann confirms the possibility of snow this week as freezing weather is only hours away

Met Eireann has confirmed that some snow could fall this week as Ireland’s weather takes a wintry turn.

The national forecaster said today that a polar maritime air mass will sweep across the country from Tuesday night with possible snowfall before the weekend.

Daytime temperatures are expected to drop dramatically with some parts of the country only hitting 5 ° C or so on Thursday and Friday.

A forecaster from Met Eireann said: “A significant change in our weather pattern will occur this week with a cold polar maritime air mass sweeping across the country.

“A cold front will sweep southeast across Ireland on Tuesday evening and this will usher in a noticeably colder and wintry period of time.

“The change in climate is being caused by the amplification of the polar jet stream over the North Atlantic, which is contributing to the development of a high-pressure lock system that will extend from the Azores to Greenland.

“This will allow polar air to flow south into Ireland and into northwestern Europe. However, as this cold air moves over the relatively warm seas of the North Atlantic, the depth of the cold will change, resulting in as a result a wintry mix with snowfall mainly restricted to elevated terrain, but with some snowfall at lower possible levels later this week. “

Forecasters are warning of extremely icy conditions Thursday and Friday with a chance of snow, although heavy snow is not expected.

In his latest weather comment, the forecaster added: “From Wednesday onwards, it will feel much colder than recently with a strong west and northwest wind developing, which will bring an additional wind chill factor.

“Daytime temperatures will be low and nighttime temperatures will be around zero or lower at times.

“There will be a combination of rain and sunny / clear showers, most of the rains will be rain and hail, but some will turn winter, particularly on Thursday and Friday and on high ground with a chance of snowfall.

“Frost and ice are expected in many areas overnight and this will lead to difficult road conditions with persistent frosts in some places until the wee hours of the morning.”