Arctic snow to return to Ireland by weekend

Ireland is in for another belt of sub-zero temperatures with snow, ice and sleet to hit by the end of the week, Met Eireann has confirmed.

The Arctic conditions that wrought havoc across the country, closing roads and schools and leaving areas isolated, look ready to return by the weekend with temperatures dropping back to -5C in some places.

“On Thursday a band of rain moves down over the country from the north, behind that after the rain clears, it does become very cold,” Met Eireann forecaster Gerry Murphy told the Irish Independent.

He continued, “There is a risk of snow with that colder air hitting on Friday, Saturday and Sunday mostly on the north and west of the country.”

In the meantime, the early part of the week will be a combination of dry, clear weather with isolated showers.

The temperature by Wednesday will be around 4 to 8 degrees and the north to northwesterly winds will be light.