Hail, sleet and frost on the way as weather turns cold

Fri, 15 Apr, 2016 - 14:00

After the recent floods in the south, Ireland’s notoriously “changeable” weather is about to take another turn.

Just as the country was getting used to some mild, pleasant conditions in recent days, Met Éireann has warned that temperatures are set to plummet this weekend, with some rain, sleet and snow thrown in too for good measure.

Mostly cloudy & dry at fist this aft. Rain in N & NW becoming widespread later, but clearing quickly to sctd shwrs. Highs 7 to 12 deg.
— Met Éireann (@MetEireann) April 15, 2016

The national forecaster warned that “frost will form quite widely and will be sharp in many places” tonight, with temperatures could fall to as low as -2C.

Although there will be some clear spells, there could also be “occasional showers, some wintry and with some sleet or possibly a little snow on mountains in the north and east”.

The moderate northerly wind will keep things feeling fairly chilly tomorrow, amid the all-too-familiar “sunny spells and scattered showers”, with “some hail or sleet in places”.

The rain should clear by evening, but the lack of that “blanket” of cloud will bring more frosty conditions.

#Frost & ice - particularly in Scotland - this weekend. Take care if you're on the roads. Jo pic.twitter.com/7yfxKXsPMz
— BBC Weather (@bbcweather) April 15, 2016

Sunday will see conditions start to improve again, with a drier, sunnier afternoon forecast, with temperatures starting to creep up to 10C in light to moderate westerly winds.

Gardeners beware though – that overnight frost could still hang around, particularly in midland and southern areas.