Temperatures set to drop to -4 degrees this week with possible snow in parts of Ireland

Met Éireann has said travel will be "especially tricky".

Temperatures are set to drop to -4 degrees this week as snow could be on the way for parts of Ireland. According to Met Éireann's current forecast, falls of sleet and possibly snow are set for the north of the country on Wednesday. This is before temperatures are set to plummet in some areas to as low as -4 degrees on Thursday night. Speaking to JOE, Met Éireann meteorologist Mark Bowe explained the reason for the change in conditions. "What's happening at the moment for today is there's a weak front over the country... and it's slowly sinking southwards with bands of rain across the central parts of the country which are moving south," he said. "But as that moves south, it allows more colder air to come in from the north-west and that colder air is bringing in some showers." Bowe said this will mainly affect the far north of Ireland, adding that if any snow was to occur in this part of the country, it would only fall in flurries on higher ground areas such as hills. However, the meteorologist said Thursday night is "definitely going to be noticeably colder". "Basically on Thursday, a ridge is going to start moving over the country," Bowe explained. "There'll be plenty of clear skies in the evening, especially in the south and east. So, the coldest temperatures for Thursday night are actually going to be in the south and the east." Bowe said it is believed temperatures will generally be around -1 to -3 degrees across the entire county on Thursday night but that temperatures will fall to -3 or -4 in exposed and higher terrain in the south-east. The meteorologist had the following advice for the public ahead of Thursday: "When temperatures go down below freezing, obviously frosty nights are always a possibility. "So especially on Thursday evening, there's definitely going to be some icy stretches. "Obviously, do take care on the roads out there. "Travel will be especially tricky overnight with those very low temperatures."