Coldest night of the year forecast tonight

Weather update from Met Éireann

Temperatures are likely to fall below minus five degrees in many areas tonight, as a Status Orange low temperature/ice warning takes effect at 5pm this evening.

It will remain in place until noon tomorrow (Monday) with accumulations of snow possible in the north west in particular.

"A severe frost and further icy stretches will set in on Sunday night, accompanied by patches of freezing fog," warns Met Éireann.

Very cold this morning with a widespread severe frost, ice on roads and paths as well as patches of freezing fog, lingering in places through the day. Most areas will be dry with winter sunshine, though wintry showers will also occur - mainly in northern and eastern counties. Temperatures only reaching 0 to +4 degrees in light, occasionally moderate, northerly or variable breezes.

Bitterly cold tonight with temperatures falling to between -7 to -4 degrees widely, dipping lower locally. Dry for most though wintry showers will occur, especially in the northwest with accumulations of snow possible. Freezing fog will also develop widely in a light variable breeze, falling near calm at times.

Tomorrow will be a bright and bitterly cold morning tomorrow with severe frost, icy conditions on roads and paths 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, with a few moving into eastern and southern counties during the afternoon and evening. Temperatures reaching just -2 to +3 degrees, coldest where the fog lingers. Light to moderate easterly breezes.

Very cold and largely dry overnight on Monday 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.

Continuing very cold as the week continues with severe frosts, icy conditions and freezing fog. A good deal of dry weather overall though there will be some wintry showers.

Tuesday is expected 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 on Tuesday night though dry for most. 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.

Continuing very cold both by day and night Wednesday and Thursday 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.