TEMPERATURES will feel even lower today as “bitterly cold” conditions set in for the weekend.
The heavy rain and gusty winds will make temperatures feel extremely low, but better spring weather is arriving in only a few days.
High temperatures are hitting next week[/caption]
But not before a chilly few days[/caption]
Carlow Weather’s Alan O’Reilly said most of today and Saturday will see wet and unsettled conditions as temperatures take a plunge.
Alan said: “Friday’s going to feel bitterly cold, strong wind and a biting cold at that. The wind chill is going to feel like 3C or 4C, so wrap up for Friday.
“There will be sunny spells but there will also be some scattered showers, so a very mixed day ahead.
“The showers will largely die out later in the evening, even if cool Saturday will see some light rain, patchy drizzle but will clear and will improve.
“For those that are looking to capture the partial solar eclipse on Saturday morning, I’m afraid it looks like cloud for most of Ireland.”
However, despite a few days of bad weather, Alan came bearing good news as the sun is set to reappear by Sunday, with some settled weather to hit.
He said: “Looking at the bigger picture though, high pressure is going to be in control of our weather for most of Sunday and next week which means no real wind, no real rain, just some patchy showers and sunny spells developing.
“Largely pretty settled weather so it’s all good.”
By next weekend, bitterly cold weather will make its return, but Alan ruled out any risk of snow hitting.
He said: “There is a risk of some cold weather arriving around April 6 or 7, but very uncertain.
“I’m sure people will start talking about the risk of snow, but at the moment it just looks like the risk of cold weather.”
SUMMER HITS EARLY
When it comes to temperatures over the coming days, they will be as low as 7C today before jumping up as high as 21C on Wednesday.
Ireland’s Weather Channel said: “The charts that keep on giving.
“Our temperatures are set to jump up from just 7C to 8C tomorrow to 20C or 21C next Wednesday and Thursday across the country as a spell of very settled weather looks set to develop over the weekend and through much of next week.
“Already there’s bags of cans being assembled, sick notes are being readied for school and work alike as the Irish summer could arrive this year in April, months ahead of the annual leaving cert spell of weather that graves out shore towards the end of May or the start of June. 99’s, BBQ’s and Bulmers are on the cards!”
TODAY’S WEATHER
As for today’s weather, Met Eireann have confirmed that rain will be widespread with the risk of hail and thunderstorms.
Andrew Doran-Sherlock said: “Today it will be breezy with sunshine and showers becoming fairly widespread this morning, some heavy and with the chance of hail and isolated thunderstorms.
“The showers will ease and become more isolated later in the day.
“Noticeably cooler though than the last few days with highs of just 8C to 11C and moderate to fresh and gusty westerly winds, strong at times for western and northern coasts. but they will also ease later.”
Tonight will see mostly dry and cold weather as cloud begins to build.
He said: “It will then be mostly dry tonight with clear spells and isolated showers at first, but cloud will build from the west through the night with patchy rain and drizzle moving into western and south-western parts by morning. Lows of 1C to 5C.”
WEEKEND OUTLOOK
Outbreaks of rain are to follow early bright spells on Saturday as temperature remain at a steady pace, but fog and mist will also appear.
Andrew added: “So there will be some brighter sunny spells in the east at first tomorrow but otherwise it will be mostly cloudy with outbreaks of light rain and drizzle, particularly in the south-west and west in the morning, turning lighter and patchier as it spreads eastwards across the country along with some mist, hill and coastal fog. Highs of 11C to 15C.”
On Sunday, a major shift will be felt as much of the rain begins to clear off for a warmer day.
“On Sunday there will be a fair amount of cloud but some sunny spells will break through and it will be largely dry with just a few spots of drizzle in the morning and isolated light showers in the afternoon. Highs of 12C to 16C.”
