Deirdre O Meara 
Weather expert Alan O’Reilly has predicted that Ireland is in for a “blast of cold air” that will hit on Sunday and last for a few days. The change in temperature is expected to send the mercury plummeting, and O’Reilly has warned the public not to put away their winter coats just yet. He advised: “If you feel inspired to get the garden furniture out and put away the winter coat you might want to hold off. The weather models are showing a late blast of cold Northerly air heading our way from Sunday for a few days! Animation shows upper air temp forecast.”
Met Eireann has also forecast a drop in temperature on Sunday, which will likely last into next week. According to their forecast for the week, today will be rather cloudy with sunny spells improving later in the day. It will be mainly dry with the chance of an isolated shower. The highest temperatures will be between 11 or 12 degrees in mostly moderate easterly winds, fresh at times near the coast.
Tonight will be mainly dry and clear, with lowest temperatures of around 5 degrees in mostly moderate easterly winds, fresh at times. Tomorrow, Thursday, will be dry and sunny, with the highest temperatures ranging from 11 to 13 degrees, as moderate to fresh easterly winds ease later. Thursday night will be dry and clear, with lowest temperatures between 2 and 5 degrees with light northeast breezes.
On Friday, it will be mainly dry and sunny to begin with. Cloud will increase through the morning with patchy outbreaks of rain and drizzle developing through the afternoon and evening over the southern half of the country, with isolated showers further north. The highest temperatures will be 13 or 14 degrees in moderate to fresh northeasterly winds. Friday night will be mostly cloudy in the east and south, with patchy rain and drizzle. It will be drier and clearer for a time in the west and northwest, with cloud increasing there too overnight. Lowest temperatures will be 2 or 3 degrees in light to moderate northeast breezes.
Saturday will be a mostly cloudy day with showers or longer spells of rain. The highest temperatures will be between 11 to 13 degrees in light easterly or variable breezes. On Sunday, it will be mainly dry to start, but afternoon showers will develop. It will turn colder later as winds become northerly. Temperatures on Sunday will be between 9 degrees in the north and 14 degrees in the south. Currently, it looks like it could potentially turn frosty again overnight Sunday night as a cold northerly airflow becomes established.
Current indications suggest a cold but mainly dry situation for the start of next week, with rain arriving from the west midweek. It is important for the public to be aware of the weather forecast and to take appropriate measures to stay warm and safe during the cold spell.
