Ireland weather: 'Windchill' to give Ireland first taste of winter amid polar plunge

Ireland will get its first taste of a winter chill later this week, according to one forecaster.

The country basked in a 23C heat blast last weekend but conditions are going to take a turn as cold air will push its way down over Ireland over the coming days.

Weather Alerts Ireland delivered the forecast on Monday and said: "After a warm weekend for most the weather is expected to change over the coming week.

"The warm air that was pushed up over Ireland bring very mild and warm conditions will be pushed East allowing cooler air and some rain to push through.

"For the weekend though much colder air is expected to push down over Ireland. Still some uncertainty on this but it is looking likely.

"Temperatures will drop way down and frost would be expected over the weekend. The windchill is expected to make it feel very cold also," they added.

Alan O'Reilly from Carlow Weather said: "Weekend looking good with high pressure but much cooler. This week is a good time to get the chimney swept or boiler serviced."

Met Éireann predicts a huge 10C swing in temperature and a largely unsettled picture for the week ahead. Looking ahead to next weekend, "early indications suggest it will be cool and breezy with sunshine and passing showers."

Between now and then, they say Wednesday will bring heavy rain and cooler temperatures.

"Heavy rain across the southern half of Ireland on Wednesday morning will become more intermittent by afternoon. Drier and brighter conditions in northern counties will extend gradually south during the day. However, it looks set to remain cloudy with occasional rain in southern coastal areas. Maximum afternoon temperatures will generally range from 12 to 15 degrees, mildest along the south coast with a moderate northerly breeze developing.

"On Wednesday night, it will stay rather cloudy in southern coastal counties with a few spots of rain or drizzle possible. Elsewhere, it will be dry with clear spells. Lowest temperatures generally ranging 4 to 8 degrees but a few degrees milder along the south coast," forecasters added.

"A dry day is forecast across most of the country on Thursday with sunny spells and varying amounts of cloud. Highest temperatures will range from 12 to 15 degrees with light southerly or variable winds. Rain will spread across much Munster, Leinster and Connacht on Thursday night but hold largely dry over Ulster. Lowest temperatures of 6 to 9 degrees in Ulster but ranging 10 to 13 degrees elsewhere with light variable winds.

"It looks set to be mostly cloudy on Friday with outbreaks of rain across Leinster and Munster. It looks set to hold largely dry across Connacht and Ulster with some sunny spells developing later in the day. Highest temperatures of 10 to 13 degrees in moderate northwest winds. Rain is expected to clear from the southeast on Friday evening to leave a mostly dry night with clear spells and just a few showers in the northwest. A chilly night with lowest temperatures of 3 to 7 degrees."