Will it snow again? Ireland weather update amid major Met Éireann u-turn

Ireland is not wet clear of snow risk as Met Éireann has included the chance of sleet in the northern half of the country overnight on Thursday and Friday.

This follows some heavy snow showers in western and Midlands counties on Thursday as some areas woke up to 5cm of snow, particularly on high ground.

Met Éireann's outlook continues to warn of "unsettled" conditions with "showers or spells of rain through the weekend and into next week." Temperatures will take a u-turn with 10 degrees forecast for the weekend and next week, making a change from the subzero figures this week.

For Thursday night, they said: "Rain leading to flooding in places, turning to sleet and snow in parts of the west and north and on high ground, confined to Ulster this afternoon. Highest temperatures of 2 to 5 degrees over the northern half of the country and 5 to 10 degrees further south, in fresh and gusty easterly winds.

"Spells of rain, possibly sleet in parts of Ulster, this evening and tonight, possibly leading to spot flooding in parts of the east coast. Coldest tonight over the northern half of the country with lowest temperatures there of zero to 5 degrees, 5 to 7 degrees in the south. Breezy with mainly moderate to fresh and gusty easterly winds.

"Further spells of rain, still with a chance of sleet in Ulster, tomorrow [Friday]. Becoming drier in Munster and south Leinster in the afternoon and evening, with sunny spells and isolated showers developing. Highest temperatures of 4 to 7 degrees generally, highest in the south and southwest with highest temperatures of 7 to 10 degrees there. Light to moderate variable winds, fresher in the north."

Their forecast for Friday is similarly grim: "Cloudy with outbreaks of rain continuing, most persistent in the north and south. Turning somewhat drier elsewhere with a mix of clear spells and showers, though some fog patches will form. Frost and ice will develop, especially under clearer skies, with lowest temperatures of -1 to +3 degrees in light to moderate easterly winds.

"Showery outbreaks of rain on Saturday with a few bright or sunny spells developing in the afternoon [on Saturday]. There is a chance some of the showers will be heavy. Highest temperatures of 6 to 10 degrees in light to moderate easterly or variable winds.

"Clear spells and scattered showers will continue for many on Saturday night, with some longer spells of rain in the west and north. Lowest temperatures of 1 to 5 degrees. Some mist and fog will form in light to moderate southwesterly winds.

"A mix of sunny spells and scattered showers on Sunday. Highest temperatures of 6 to 9 degrees in moderate westerly winds, fresh at times.

"A mix of sunny spells and isolated showers on Monday. Highest temperatures of 6 to 9 degrees in moderate to fresh westerly winds.

"A mix of clear spells and isolated showers [on Monday night]. However, cloud will build from the southwest overnight. Lowest temperatures of -2 to +3 degrees, coldest in the north and east. Light to moderate southwesterly winds backing southeasterly overnight."

Beyond that, Met Éireann says "current indications suggest that low pressure will remain in charge of our weather and it will stay unsettled with spells of rain, heavy at times."