Ireland will be “turning cold” from Monday night, November 18 as an Arctic airmass becomes established over the country, Met Éireann, the Irish meteorological service, said in an advisory on Monday.
The cold airmass "looks set to persist for several days" over Ireland, Met Éireann added.
Several weather warnings have now been issued across Ireland as temperatures turn significantly colder -- with showers of sleet and snow expected.
Frosty and icy nights are forecast as well.
Potential impacts from the cold snap include difficult traveling conditions,
poor visibility in wintry showers, and travel disruption.
A Status Yellow snow and ice warning was issued for Counties Cavan, Donegal, Monaghan, Leitrim, and Sligo, in effect from 7 pm Monday until 8 am on Tuesday.
⚠️Yellow Snow/Ice Warning⚠️
➡️Cavan, Donegal, Leitrim, Monaghan & Sligo
⏰19:00 Mon 18/11/24 until 08:00 Tue 19/11/24
➡️Snowfall accumulations possible this evening & overnight
❗️Possible impacts:
➡️Poor visibility
➡️Difficult travelling conditionsℹ️https://t.co/w5QtJ1UyEP pic.twitter.com/Mh3rr7csvR
— Met Éireann (@MetEireann) November 18, 2024
A longer Status Yellow snow and ice warning was also issued for Counties Antrim, Armagh, Down, Fermanagh, Tyrone, and Derry, in effect from 3 pm on Monday until 10 am on Tuesday.
Also UK Met Office Weather Warning https://t.co/rtAySq2rBP : Yellow - Snow and Ice Warning for Antrim, Armagh, Down, Fermanagh, Tyrone, Derry. Valid: 15:00 Monday 18/11/2024 to 10:00 Tuesday 19/11/2024
— Met Éireann (@MetEireann) November 18, 2024
Meanwhile, the whole of Ireland is under a weather advisory, with Met Eireann warning that "wintry hazards including frost and ice are likely with potential for sleet, snow and hail for some." The advisory, issued on Friday, is valid through Saturday, November 23.
A weather advisory has been issued as the weather becomes significantly colder. 📉 🥶
You can read more about this in our Meteorologist commentary 👇 📰https://t.co/7hiym4dvw9 pic.twitter.com/xKslRMJWVF
— Met Éireann (@MetEireann) November 15, 2024
Meteorologist Rebecca Cantwell said on Monday: “This evening and tonight rain will meet colder air in Ulster and parts of north Connacht, turning to sleet and snow in some areas. This will bring tricky traveling conditions as visibility is greatly reduced in wintery showers.
"As the rain clears through tonight and tomorrow [Tuesday], the cold arctic air will move southwards over the country. So, a notably colder day tomorrow but brightening up too with some sunshine.
"It will continue cold right through the working week with daytime temperatures struggling to rise above 2 to 6 degrees and temperatures falling widely below freezing at night.
"We’ll see a widespread frost developing and icy stretched too, leading to slippery conditions under foot and possibly travel disruption in some areas.”
Rebecca continued: “That northerly airflow will also bring scattered showers of rain, sleet and snow through the week and with those cold temperatures, that precipitation will tend to freeze, increasing icy conditions, so do take care when out and about."
Met Éireann added: "Looking ahead towards the end of the week, there is a chance of some rain, sleet, or snow moving into the south on Thursday with the possibility of some wet and windy weather on the weekend but a high degree of uncertainty at this time."