How long is the freezing weather going to last? Met Éireann has the latest forecast up to Christmas
The cold snap is certainly going to last through looks set to last well in to next week but Met Éireann expects some easing of its freezing grip in the second half of the week.
In its latest forecast as the weekend ends, the forecaster says it will continuing very cold with severe frosts, icy conditions and freezing fog. While there will be a good deal of dry weather overall though there will be some wintry showers.
The forecaster says temperatures will also plunge to -7c but it could be colder in parts with -10c feared by Ireland's emergency response team. Temperatures dipped to -8.1c on Saturday night in Athenry.
A Status Orange warning is in place for Sunday night going into Monday for low temperatures and ice. Three Status Yellow alerts are also set to extend through Sunday for fog, snow and ice.
Going into the new week Met Éireann issued a Status Yellow low temperature ice warning for Ireland that is valid until noon Friday, December 16.
Sot what is it saying beyond that and what's the outlook for Christmas?
Well, in its further outlook beyond that Met Éireann says there is a good deal of uncertainty in the forecast further out.
"Current indications suggest that while it will still be cold, it won't be as cold as previous days. Further frost, ice and wintry showers possible at times," it says.
It's monthly forecast issued on Friday, December 9 says it will remain cold through to Sunday, December 18 as low pressure to our south and high pressure to the north will steer a cold easterly airflow over the country, with temperatures well below the average.
Met Éireann expects it to be drier than normal for most but the east and south will have more frequent showers than elsewhere. As a result precipitation amounts will be higher than normal here. It says some of the showers will be of hail, sleet or snow with treacherous conditions possible at times. Frosty and icy conditions are likely to persist in places during the daytime.
From Monday, December 19 to Christmas Day Met Éireann expects it to continue to be colder than normal, though current indications suggest temperatures will trend slightly closer to normal. While most areas will be drier than normal, the forecaster says the east and south will remain slightly wetter, with more frequent showers there. It warns of some potential for wintry precipitation in these showers, with the ongoing possibility of frost and ice.
In the week from St Stephen's Day to New Year's Day, Met Éireann says current indications suggest temperatures will return to around the average and most areas will experience near average rainfall also, though some eastern and southern parts may still see more frequent showers. MORE DETAILS BELOW TWEET.
MORE MET ÉIREANN SHORT TERM FORECAST BELOW TWEET.
National Forecast Issued at 5.22 pm on Sunday, December 11.
Sunday: A very cold and mostly dry evening, with just some wintry showers gradually pushing into the northwest. Freezing fog will further develop through the evening in mostly light variable breezes.
A bitterly cold night with temperatures falling to between -7 to -4 degrees widely, dipping lower locally. Wintry showers will occur, especially in the west and northwestern with accumulations of snow possible. Otherwise it will be largely dry, while freezing fog will become more widespread as light variable breezes fall calm at times.
Monday: A bright and bitterly cold morning with severe frost, some icy conditions and freezing fog, all leading to very hazardous travelling conditions. The frost, fog and ice will linger in places through the day. Wintry showers will also continue in the northwest and west, with a few isolated showers elsewhere during the afternoon and evening. Bitterly cold with highest temperatures at best reaching just -2 to +2 degrees, coldest where the fog lingers in light to moderate easterly breezes.
The night will be very cold but largely dry with just some wintry showers, most likely along eastern coasts. A widespread sharp to severe frost and icy conditions will set in as temperatures fall as low as -7 to -1 degrees, coldest over the midlands and north. Patches of freezing fog will form too in light east to northeast breezes, possibly increasing fresh in the southwest with the chance of falls of rain, sleet and snow there.
Tuesday: Another very cold day with frost and ice persisting through the day. Largely dry with sunshine though with wintry showers persisting in northwestern and eastern coastal counties and the chance of further falls of rain, sleet and snow in the southwest. Daytime temperatures will only reach 0 to +4 degrees in light to moderate northerly winds, fresher near northern and western coasts.
Very cold though dry for most on Tuesday night. Wintry showers will occur, mainly near coastal areas. Widespread severe frost and ice are expected with minimum temperatures of -6 to -1 degrees. Northerly winds will be light to moderate for most but continuing fresher along northern and western coasts.
Wednesday and Thursday: Continuing very cold both by day and night with widespread severe frost and ice leading to treacherous conditions. Most areas will stay dry though further wintry showers are expected, mainly affecting coastal areas. Temperatures will range from 1 to 4 degrees by day, widely dropping to between -6 and -2 degrees at night.
Further Outlook: A good deal of uncertainty in the forecast further out. Current indications suggest that while it will still be cold, it won't be as cold as previous days. Further frost, ice and wintry showers possible at times.