12 hours Ago By Aoife Horan
MET Eireann have said temperatures are set to drop below zero to -2C this weekend with rain set to batter the country. Forecaster Linda Hughes explained that from Friday night, showery rain will travel across the country bringing cool air into the weekend and start of next week. By Sunday night, the national forecaster has predicted that mercury may drop as low as -2C in parts.
Hughes said: "Some patches of light rain and drizzle over the next couple of days. "Then tomorrow night into Saturday, a band of showery rain will track eastwards across the country, and that will introduce much colder air for the rest of the weekend and into next week." Today will begin with some mist and fog patches with clouds and drizzle on the cards for the rest of the day.
While tonight will see patchy rain and drizzle continue with some mist and fog set to form in temperatures of 7C to 11C. The Met Eireann meteorologist said: "Some mist and fog around this morning , it will be a mostly cloudy day with patches of drizzle, highest temperatures of 11C to 14C in a light northwesterly wind. "Tonight will continue mostly cloudy with patches of light rain or drizzle, mist and fog will form again in light and variable winds.
"Lowest temperatures of 7C to 11C." Friday is expected to be cloudy with patchy rain and drizzle and mercury will hit highs 1C below today. She added: "Tomorrow, Friday, will be mostly cloudy with some patches of light rain or drizzle.
"Highest temperatures of 11C to 13C with light to moderate southwesterly winds, freshening in the northwest later." Friday night will see rain move southeast across the country with mercury dropping to highs of 5C to 10C. Hughes explained: "On Friday night outbreaks of rain will move southeast across the country.
"It will become dry with some clear spells in Ulster and Connacht later. "Lowest temperatures of 5C to 10C with light to moderate southwesterly winds becoming northwesterly as the rain clears." Saturday morning will begin with outbreaks of rain in the east and south which are set to clear and allow for sunny intervals.
However, clouds will build again, bringing rain to the north and northwest. She said: "At first, on Saturday morning, it will be cloudy with outbreaks of rain in the south and east that will clear southeastward, allowing some sunny intervals at a time. "Cloud will build again from the north, though, bringing some rain to the north and northwest later.
"Highest temperatures on Saturday of 8C to 13C with light to moderate west, northwest winds." Sunday is forecast to be a mainly cloudy day with rain to hit again but clear during the afternoon. The rest of the day will see sunny spells and showers with temperatures of 5C to 11C.
Hughes explained: "On Sunday, it'll be mainly cloudy with outbreaks of rain in the morning, gradually clearing southwards during the afternoon. "Sunny spells and some showers will follow, highest temperatures of 5C to 11C, coldest in Ulster with moderate west to northwest winds." Sunday night will see mercury fall below zero to lows of -2C under cold clear skies.
Met Eireann wrote: "Cold under mainly clear skies, with a few showers in coastal areas. "Lowest temperatures of -2C to 2C with light northwesterly winds." Next week is predicted to begin with a cold and mostly dry Monday with showers and cloud occurring later in the day.
Hughes added: "On Monday, it will be cold and mostly dry in the morning, becoming a bit cloudier with showers throughout the day. "Highest temperatures of just 5C to 8C with light and variable winds.".
