Snow update for Ireland as forecaster pinpoints counties to endure cold blast

Parts of Ireland could see wintry showers and even snow later this week, according to forecasters.

Met Éireann has said our weather will become "cooler" this week with "blustery showers on Friday and Saturday, followed by rain on Sunday."

They added: "Scattered showers will continue on Friday night, some heavy with hail and wintry on hills. It will be driest in the southeast. Lowest temperatures of 1 to 4 degrees in a moderate to fresh and gusty westerly wind."

Meanwhile, Cathal Nolan from Ireland's Weather Channel has given an update on the potential for a late winter blast, naming a number of counties that could be impacted.

"On Friday evening a strong northwesterly airflow will be firmly in place across the country, feeling in a mixture of clear periods and heavy showers," he said.

"Through the night these showers will become increasingly wintry, especially with the passage of a trough during Saturday morning where showers will become more organised for a time.

"At lower levels the showers will predominantly fall as rain, hail or sleet, but above 200-300 metres on Saturday morning the showers will fall as snow for a time.

"The highest chance of accumulations occurs across Ulster and parts of Leinster, but any accumulations would be temporary and only above 200-300 metres.

"Mountainous areas of Donegal, Derry, Tyrone, Fermanagh, Antrim, Down, Armagh, Louth and Wicklow may see some temporary accumulations of snow on Saturday morning. With a dusting of snow possible over mountainous areas.

"Frost will also be an issue on Saturday night as skies clear and winds fall light, resulting in a risk of icy patches on untreated road surfaces.

"Into next week the weather remains unsettled with some uncertainty still regarding the temperatures and risk of higher elevation wintry precipitation, though for lower levels it looks like being just rainy into next week."