Met Eireann flag part of country set to take brunt of 'arctic air mass' snow and warn 'no end in sight' to cold snap

Top forecasters at Met Eireann have flagged the part of the country set to be hardest hit by snow as Ireland braces for a bone-chilling cold snap.

And the weather experts say that as the temperatures are on the brink of dropping there's no end in sight for what's set to be a big freeze.

Temperatures are set to plummet as low as -10C over the coming days bringing wintry showers of hail, sleet and snow, along with widespread frost, ice and freezing fog.

READ MORE:Ireland weather warning: 'Disruptive' snow to wreak havoc as Met Eireann warns of -10C temperatures

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Met Éireann is warning of the possibility of significant snowfall as an arctic air mass is set to bring bitterly cold conditions. The National Directorate for Fire and Emergency Management has also said it is liaising with Met Éireann regarding the possibility of disruptive weather over the weekend.

In anticipation of the cold conditions intensifying, the national forecaster has issued a rare 'double' warning for low temperatures and ice, covering the entire country. While warnings are typically issued for singular weather events, this Status Yellow alert combines both hazards.

The 17-hour warning begins at 6pm today and continues until 11am tomorrow. It states: "Very cold with widespread frost and ice as temperatures fall to -3C or below in many areas. Potential impacts include hazardous travelling conditions and animal welfare issues."

Met Éireann forecaster Matthew Martin said that the coldest areas tonight will be across the south midlands.

Speaking on RTÉ News at One, he said that there is a cold polar northerly air flow covering the country that will stay with us over the weekend and into next week.

Mr Martin added that the chance for hazardous winter weather increases over the weekend and on Saturday, a band of rain is going to push in from the Atlantic and track northwards over the country.

As this rain interacts with the cold air, it will turn to snow in some areas, he said, adding that there was a lot of uncertainty as to where the rain to snow boundary will be positioned Mr Martin said that there is potential for significant accumulations of snow.

"At the moment the Midlands looks most at risk for some significant snow," he said. The forecaster said that there is currently no sign of the cold spell ending at any stage next week.

Meanwhile, Met Eireann forecaster Brandon Creagh said temperatures will fall below -5C in some parts of the country, while there will be widespread lows of -3C. He told the Irish Mirror: “Tomorrow starts off very similar to today but as the low pressure system gets closer to us from the southwest the cloud will start to build over a bit. Tomorrow night will be cold but not as cold as tonight and as we move into Saturday things get less certain.

“With the advisory that’s out at the moment there is chance that low pressure system will get closer to us and bring a band of rain, when that rain hits the cold air it’s going to turn to sleet or snow, especially over the midland counties and the northwest. Elsewhere it could be mostly rain or sleet.”

Early indications show next week is set to be another cold one as an arctic air mass will bring “bitterly cold” conditions. Mr Creagh has warned people that these low temperatures will bring hazardous conditions, especially on roads and footpaths.

He said: “The main roads will be salted gritted and they will be prepared for that. Subroads near waters that could easily freeze and untreated services such as cycle paths and footpaths people need to be aware of, especially tomorrow morning. It could be quite treacherous in parts and for parts of the northwest heading into the weekend if people are heading out on any walks over the hills they should take care.”

Met Eireann's Ireland snow timeline

"Frost and any ice will clear Thursday morning to leave a cold day and it'll be dry and sunny in many areas. There'll be scattered showers though, mainly in Ulster and Connacht, some of hail and sleet. There'll be a few snow flurries too, mainly in the north. Highest temperatures of only 2C to 6C in a light to moderate mainly north to northwest breeze. Cold Thursday night with clear spells and while it'll be dry in most areas, there'll be well scattered showers, mainly in the north and west, some wintry. Lowest temperatures of -5C to 0C with widespread frost and some ice developing. Some fog and freezing fog will form too. Winds will be mostly light west to northwesterly or variable, but will be fresher in northern coastal parts.

"It'll be frosty to begin Friday morning with some fog in places too. The frost and fog will clear to leave another cold day, but it'll be dry and sunny again in many areas. However there'll be scattered showers, mainly in the north and some in the west, a few wintry, and with more persistent rain for a time in north Ulster. Highest temperatures of 2C to 6C in mostly light to moderate westerly or variable breezes, the winds fresher for a time in coastal parts of the north and northeast. Staying cold and mainly dry Friday night with clear spells. There'll be a few well scattered showers near western and northern coasts, the odd wintry one. Lowest temperatures of -3C to 1C, with widespread frost and some ice forming once again. There'll also be some fog and freezing fog patches.

"The frost and fog will clear on Saturday morning and it'll be dry for a time in many areas with some sunny spells, especially further north. However, it now looks increasingly likely that an area of low pressure to the south of Ireland, will dominate our weather for the rest of the weekend, with rain gradually spreading from the southwest over the course of the day, becoming heavy at times, especially later and as it meets the cold air further inland, it'll turn to sleet and snow. Cold with highest temperatures of just 1C to 6C or 7C , with the higher temperatures along the south and southwest coast, where the precipitation will fall mainly as rain. Winds will be mostly light easterly to begin, but will freshen through the day. The area of low pressure is likely to track eastwards close to or over southern parts of the country on Saturday night, bringing widespread heavy falls of rain, sleet and snow on Saturday night. The precipitation will mainly fall as sleet and snow away from the south and southwest, with some significant accumulations expected. Lowest temperatures of -2C to 1C in moderate to fresh and gusty east to northeast winds, stronger in some coastal parts.

"Sunday will bring further falls of rain, sleet and some further significant snowfall accumulations for a time. It'll gradually become drier from the west later in the day as the area of low pressure moves away eastwards. Feeling very cold with highest temperatures of 2C to 7C and with the added wind chill from fresh and gusty northerly winds, strong at times in some coastal parts. Any remaining rain, sleet and snow will clear eastwards on Sunday night, with clear spells following. Scattered rain, hail, sleet and snow showers will follow too, mainly into the north and west. Very cold with some significant amounts of lying snow, widespread frost and ice. Lowest temperatures of -5C to 0C with the north to northwest winds generally moderating."Very cold Monday with some bright or sunny spells and scattered showers of rain, hail, sleet and snow, these most frequent in the north and west. Highest temperatures ranging from freezing to 5C in mostly moderate northwest winds, fresher in coastal parts of the north and west. Very cold Monday night with some clear spells and further scattered wintry showers, these mainly in the north and west. Lowest temperatures of -7C to -1C with widespread severe, frost, ice conditions. Winds will be mostly light to moderate northwesterly, fresher in coastal parts of the north and northwest."Another very cold day Thursday with treacherous icy conditions and lying snow. Overall there'll be a lot of dry bright, sunny weather, but still some scattered showers in the north and west. Highest temperatures of just -1C to 4C in light to moderate west to northwest winds. Apart from a few lingering wintry showers in the north, it'll be dry on Tuesday night with clear spells. Freezing fog will form, becoming dense in places. Extremely cold with temperatures expected to fall to between -10C and -3C in light variable breezes."Bitterly cold on Wednesday with freezing fog, lying snow and icy conditions. Mainly dry, with just well scattered showers in the north and northwest. Daytime temperatures could be as low as -5C to 2C.".

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