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Met Eireann has issued an urgent yellow snow and ice status warning for Co Donegal.
The alert is active from midnight on Thursday until just before midnight on Friday.
It says: “Heavy winter showers of hail, sleet and snow are expected tonight (Wednesday) and Thursday with reduced visibility and likely to accumulate in some places.”
While the UK Met Office has also issued a yellow ice warning in Antrim, Fermanagh, Tyrone and Derry from midnight to 8am on Thursday morning.
That alert says: “The icy patches that form during the night can cause some interruption in the trip.”
It comes after Met Eireann warned yesterday that “significant change” is coming, as a “cold polar air mass” will bring snow to some areas.
There is a weather warning for the entire country until shortly before midnight on Saturday, as “sudden to severe frosts and frozen sections” are expected.
While experts also say snow could hit lower ground later this week as a cold front approaches.
One forecaster explained: “There will be a significant change in our weather pattern this week with a cold polar maritime air mass spreading across the country. A cold front will sweep southeast across Ireland on Tuesday night and this will usher in colder, wintry weather.time spell.
“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 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 restricted mainly to elevated terrain, but with some snowfall at the lowest possible levels later this week. “
Meanwhile, today will bring a risk of hail in places before a freezing night, and it is only expected to cool down as the week progresses, as lows hit -4 ° C Thursday night.
A forecaster from Met Eireann said: “This morning, persistent light rain in the east and southeast will clear early, leaving a mostly dry morning with spells of sunshine. However, stormy rains in the northwest will extend throughout the day, some becoming intense with the risk of hail, particularly in the west. Chill with cool, gusty winds from the west and higher temperatures of only 5 to 8 degrees, the coldest in Ulster.
“Widespread rains will persist tonight, merging with longer periods of rain in the southern half of the country. Some rains will be heavy and stormy with hail, becoming increasingly wintry, especially in the northwestern highlands. Cold with lower temperatures of 0 to 3 degrees with moderate winds from the southwest.
“Tomorrow will be a very cold day with heavy and widespread rains in the morning. The rains will gradually be confined to the western half of the country during the morning, and drier and brighter conditions will develop elsewhere. There will be a risk of hail, thunder and Some rains will fall as sleet on high ground, temperatures reaching only 2-4 degrees with a mild to moderate west breeze.
“Winter showers will persist in western coastal areas Thursday night. Elsewhere it will be drier with clear spells and a heavy frost on the ground leading to some icy areas. Very cold with temperatures lower than +1 to -4 degrees, colder in Leinster and Munster. “
And as we approach the weekend, it will stay cold overnight and frost is expected, particularly when lows hit -3C on Sunday night.
A forecaster added: “Friday will be another cold day. A dry and bright start in many areas, but the rains will continue in the western coastal areas, some heavy and winter with a risk of hail. Clouds will gather in the north and east. overnight, bringing more widespread winter rains. 4 to 6 degree afternoon temperatures with cool northwesterly winds bringing an additional factor of wind chill.
“Saturday will be dry and bright in many areas with rainfall mainly confined to coastal areas. Windy to start with moderate to cool northwesterly winds, but winds will subside from light to moderate during the day. Higher temperatures 6 to 8 degrees Celsius .
“Current indications indicate that Sunday will be another mostly dry day with sunny periods and only scattered showers along the coasts. A cold day with afternoon temperatures of 3 to 7 degrees, cooler in Ulster and Leinster with a slight Northwest Breeze or Variable Cold continues on Sunday night with temperatures dropping to between 0 and -3 degrees with widespread frost formation. Fog and mist will also develop with a light north breeze.
“Staying cold in the first days of next week, with more downpours or longer periods of rain.”
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