Ireland's cold snap to 'intensify' amid snow threat and Met Éireann warnings

The threat of snow in Ireland increases this week with Met Éireann and other forecasters predicting a sprinkling of the white stuff for some areas as early as Monday night.

Ireland is in the grips of a major cold spell which looks like running well into next week with temperatures dipping as low as -5 degrees overnight this week.

Met Éireann has already issued a Status Yellow low temperature warning for the whole country until 10am on Tuesday but one forecaster is already predicting a longer cold spell with snow now likely.

Cathal Nolan from Ireland's Weather Channel said: "Before getting into the technical nature of the extended outlook, it’s worth emphasising the risk of snow for some areas of the country tonight [Monday], as a small wave associated with a pool of colder upper air pushes westwards across the southern half of the country from the east.

"As this colder pool of air interacts with the warmer seas off the east and south coast, they will lead to the development of what’s called lake effect snow, which is a process where by during cold weather, instability is generated by warm sea/lake air rising and initiating convection," he explained.

"This process will occur later tonight off the east and south coasts, leading to some snow showers with a small risk of accumulations in parts of Wicklow and Wexford, and later into counties Waterford and Cork. Any accumulations will occur inland away from costs, with the highest risk over higher ground. More details on that later.

"The question on how long this cold spell will last for is equally complex however the GFS and ECMWF both indicate that the cold spell is likely to last until at least the 18th or 20th of January, with the cold spell possibly intensifying over from Sunday onwards with an increased risk of snow for some," Cathal said.

"The below charts look at the temperature at 850 hPa and they indicate that much colder upper air temperatures will spread across the country from the north through Sunday and persist for much of next week, lower temperatures further and resulting in some snow across the north and northwest chiefly.

"I’ll provide further details on this risk later, but for now take care if you’re out and about today as roads and pavements remain icy, with overnight ice and frost slow to clear. Highs today or just 3-6 degrees Celsius, with lows tonight dipping down to -5 in some places, most likely in the Midwest," he concluded.

Meanwhile,  Met Éireann's forecast for Ireland's cold spell also shows that freezing temperatures may stick around into next week amid warnings and advisories. 

Met Éireann has issued a nationwide Status Yellow low temperature and ice warning. It came into effect at 9pm on Monday and remains valid until 10am on Tuesday. 

The national forecaster has also issued a national weather advisory for low temperatures and ice which runs until Friday, January 12, at 10.30pm. Despite this, more warnings are likely this week and the cold spell looks like continuing into next week.

In its outlook for the rest of this week, Met Éireann says: "High pressure dominating this week, bringing mostly dry and cold weather with some sunshine. Frost and ice will develop at night along with patches of mist and fog."

For Monday, they say there will be "bright or sunny spells" in the afternoon and "dry, apart from some showers across the Northeast. Cold with highs of 2 to 6 degrees in mostly light easterly breezes."

Monday night "will be very cold with a widespread sharp to severe frost, and icy patches. Dry, apart from a few wintry flurries across the Southeast and East with a light dusting of snow occurring locally. Patches of mist or fog also. Lowest temperatures of -5 to +1 degrees in a light easterly breezes.

"Tuesday morning will begin frosty and icy with a light dusting of snow locally. It will be cold throughout with low winter sunshine occurring widely. Dry, apart from a few light showers across eastern coastal counties. Highest temperatures of 2 to 6 degrees, in light to moderate easterly breezes. Frost and ice setting in quickly after-dark."

"Tuesday night will be cold with lowest temperatures ranging from -3 to +2 degrees. There will be frost and icy patches in many areas and some patches of mist and fog. Light easterly breezes.

"Wednesday will be another cold day, with patchy light rain along eastern coasts, and sunny spells further west. Highest temperatures of 3 to 7 degrees with light to moderate easterly breezes. On WEDNESDAY NIGHT, frost and fog patches will develop, especially over the western half of the country. Lowest temperatures of -2 to +2 degrees

"Thursday will continue cold with mostly cloudy conditions in the east and bright or sunny spells further west. Highest temperature of 4 to 7 degrees, with temperatures overnight falling to between -3 and +1 degrees and with some fog patches developing.

"Friday will continue cold and mainly dry with frost and patches fog clearing slowly and with bright or sunny spells developing. Highest temperatures of just 2 to 5 degrees with light variable breezes."

Beyond that, Met Éireann says next weekend "will continue cold and mainly dry, however, some showers are likely to move down from the north at times. Day time temperatures will range from 4 to 7 degrees and there will be frost and icy patches at night."

In their extended forecast for next week, Met Éireann predict the icy weather sticking around.

"We will likely see high pressure situated to the northwest and low pressure situated over the continent. As a result, precipitation amounts are signalled to be close to normal or slightly above along eastern coastal areas but elsewhere precipitation is expected to below average. Temperatures into week 2 are also signalled to remain below average."