Deirdre O Meara 
Get ready to bundle up because winter is not over yet. According to Met Eireann, Ireland is expecting a temperature swing of up to 14C in some parts of the country over the next week as a mild spell comes to a frosty end.
The warm weather will soon be replaced by wintry showers, freezing temperatures, hail and fog, with frost and ice in the mornings towards the end of the week. The cold snap will continue on into the weekend, with heavy showers and possible thunderstorms on Wednesday.
Parts of Cork could see temperatures as low as -1 or -2 degrees in the early hours of Thursday morning, and early morning commutes will be frosty for many.
Today
Today, Monday 20th February, is mostly cloudy with limited bright or sunny spells. There will be patchy drizzle and mist throughout the day, particularly along hills and coasts. The temperature will be relatively mild for the time of year, with highs of 11 to 13 degrees, and moderate to occasionally gusty west to southwest winds. Winds will decrease light to moderate later.
Tonight will be mostly cloudy but mainly dry, with just a few patches of light rain or drizzle. There will be some limited clearer intervals occurring, with lows of 5 to 8 degrees Celsius in light to moderate southwest breezes.
Tuesday
Tomorrow, Tuesday 21st February, will be mostly cloudy again with patchy drizzle and mist. More persistent rain will develop along the west coast during the afternoon, spreading eastwards during the evening. The highest temperatures will be 9 to 12 degrees, with light to moderate south to southwest winds, veering fresh northwest as the rain moves through.
Starting from Tuesday evening, there is a risk of night-time frosts returning, with temperatures falling to between 0 and 4 degrees after the rain clears. The potential for some frost and icy patches in sheltered spots is high.
Wednesday
Wednesday will be a noticeably colder day with sunshine and widespread blustery showers. Some of the showers will be heavy with hail and a risk of isolated thunderstorms, and a few may turn wintry over hills and mountains, especially towards evening. The afternoon temperatures will range from 6 to 9 degrees, but it will feel colder in the brisk northwest wind.
Many areas will be dry with some sunshine to begin on Thursday, but cloud will tend to increase from the northwest during the morning, bringing patchy outbreaks of rain and drizzle. Afternoon temperatures will range from 7 to 9 degrees with light to moderate northwest breezes.
Current indications for Friday suggest a breezy day with sunny spells and scattered showers. Highs of 8 to 11 degrees but feeling cooler in moderate to fresh north to northwest winds.
Although there is some uncertainty at this stage, high pressure looks set to dominate next weekend, bringing broadly dry and settled conditions. Maximum temperatures will be around 7 to 9 degrees with frosty nights.
