Met Éireann's snow verdict amid windchill forecast for Ireland

Met Éireann has given its verdict on the possibility of snow and wintry showers this week amid reports of plunging temperatures and a brief winter blast.

Cathal Nolan from Ireland's Weather Channel has said that any snow this week will be confined to areas above 300 metres and will not be widespread like the blast experienced last month. Northern counties and counties in north Leinster are most at risk of some wintry precipitation.

Met Éireann has said our weather looks like "becoming cooler with unsettled conditions continuing for the weekend" in its latest outlook. They also predict some wintry falls on Friday night and early Saturday morning.

For Thursday night, the forecast reads: "Rain and drizzle will continue to clear southeastwards early tonight. Clear spells will follow overnight, along with a few showers in the north and west. Turning colder as the rain clears with lowest temperatures of 3 to 7 degrees and with winds decreasing mostly moderate westerly, fresh to strong though in northern and western coastal parts.

"Bright and blustery tomorrow [Friday] with sunshine and showers, the showers mainly in the north and west at first but becoming fairly widespread by the afternoon. Some of the showers will be heavy with a chance of hail and a chance of thunder too. A cooler day with highest temperatures of 7 to 11 degrees in a moderate to fresh and gusty westerly wind, stronger in Atlantic coastal parts.

"Scattered showers will continue on Friday night, some heavy with hail and possibly turning 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.

"Windy with sunny spells and widespread showers. Some will be heavy and there is a chance of hail. Some wintry falls possible on hills during the morning and afternoon, especially in the north. Highest temperatures of 6 to 9 degrees in a moderate to fresh and gusty west to northwest wind," they continued.

"It will become drier on Saturday night as showers become lighter and isolated to western and northern coastal counties. Long clear spells will develop and winds will ease. Lowest temperatures of 2 to 6 degrees.

"Sunday will start off dry with just isolated showers, however cloud will increase from the west during the morning and rain will spread across the country during the afternoon and evening. Highest temperatures of 7 to 10 degrees with light to moderate variable winds.

"A wet night with widespread rain and drizzle, heaviest in the south [Sunday night]. Lowest temperatures of 2 to 6 degrees with light to moderate variable winds."

Beyond that, Met Éireann says it looks like "widespread rain will continue on Monday, clearing northeastwards later with clear spells developing in the south. Highest temperatures of 5 to 11 degrees with light to moderate variable winds."

Meanwhile, the Weather Alerts Ireland page, is forecasting a "windy few days" ahead along with a colder weather blast.

"Saturday in particular looks very windy around the country," they says, adding, "colder air is expected to push over Ireland this evening [Thursday] into tomorrow and this will make it feel cold.

"Strong winds and the cold air will make the windchill feel colder. Wintry showers are also expected from tomorrow and over the weekend," they concluded.