Met Éireann predicts polar plunge with temperatures to dip below zero within days

Ireland's weather is about to turn very cold this week with Met Éireann forecasting frost and ice for the week ahead.

In its outlook for this week, Met Éireann says: "Rain on Tuesday night, clearing from the north and east Wednesday morning. Otherwise, cool and breezy with sunny spells and scattered showers."

For Monday,  Met Éireann predicts "sunny spells and scattered blustery showers", adding that "some of the showers will be heavy, which could cause some spot flooding, mainly in northwestern counties. Highest temperatures of 9 to 12 degrees, in a moderate to fresh westerly wind, gusty near Atlantic coasts.

"Scattered showers will continue tonight. Lowest temperatures of 4 to 8 degrees in a light to moderate westerly wind, occasionally increasing fresh.

"Tomorrow morning [Tuesday] there will be sunny spells and scattered showers. The showers will become less frequent in the afternoon and cloud will build from the southwest. Rain and drizzle will develop across much of Munster and Connacht during the evening. Highest temperatures of 9 to 13 degrees in a light to moderate westerly wind, becoming southerly and freshening in the west through the evening."

For Tuesday night, they say it will be "wet and breezy with rain and drizzle extending across the country, accompanied by fresh to strong and gusty southerly winds. Dry and clear conditions with westerly winds will follow from the west later. Lowest temperatures of 4 to 8 degrees.

"Rain will clear from Ulster and Leinster in the morning [Wednesday] and for the rest of the day there will be sunny spells and scattered blustery showers. Highest temperatures of 8 to 11 degrees in a moderate to fresh and gusty west to southwest wind.

"Clear spells and scattered showers will continue overnight. Lowest temperatures of 3 to 6 degrees in a moderate to fresh southwesterly wind."

Thursday will be "another day of sunshine and scattered blustery showers, with more persistent rain possible in the southwest. Feeling chilly with highest temperatures of 6 to 9 degrees, in a moderate to fresh and gusty southwesterly wind."

Thursday night will be "cold with clear spells and further showers. Frost and ice are possible as temperatures fall to between -1 and +5 degrees. Winds will be mostly light and variable, but possibly stronger in the southwest.

"Cool, bright and breezy with sunshine and scattered showers [on Friday]. Highest temperatures of 7 to 11 degrees in a moderate to fresh and gusty northwesterly wind."

Beyond that in their outlook for the weekend, they say "Saturday is looking like the driest day of the weekend, with rain forecast for Saturday night and Sunday."