Cold and unsettled over the coming days

Weather update from Met Éireann

Continuing unsettled with spells of wet and breezy weather over the coming days.

Expect a cold few days ahead as a number of counties come under various status yellow weather warnings for wind, rain and snow - though Cavan and Monaghan are not included just yet.

Cold with frost and ice to begin today. A dry day for most, it will be bright at first, but with cloud thickening from the southwest through the day.

Outbreaks of rain and drizzle will spread across Munster from the southwest, possibly falling as sleet or snow for a time on high ground. Highs of just 3 to 7 degrees, and becoming breezy with winds increasing easterly moderate to fresh.

Becoming wet and windy over night with outbreaks of rain becoming widespread, possibly falling as sleet or snow at times in the west and northwest and on higher ground. Lows of 0 to 5 degrees early in the night, but becoming milder from the southwest through the night. Southeasterly winds will be fresh to strong.

Wet and breezy tomorrow, Wednesday, with widespread outbreaks of rain and drizzle, possibly falling as sleet or snow for a time in the northwest and on higher ground.

The rain will gradually become confined to Leinster and Ulster with scattered showers following for Connacht and Munster. Already saturated ground, together with strong onshore winds coinciding with high tides, mean that some spot and coastal flooding is likely. Highs of just 2 to 5 degrees in the north, but of 5 to 10 degrees elsewhere. Moderate to fresh southeasterly winds will be stronger near coasts.

Mostly cloudy overnight on Wednesday with drier conditions further east and scattered showers or more persistent spells of rain further west. Lows of -1 to +3 degrees generally, perhaps a little milder in the southwest, with light to moderate variable winds, fresher in the southwest.

Starting off mostly cloudy on Thursday. Scattered showers or more persistent spells of rain will move northeastwards across the country with drier and brighter conditions following from the southwest. Highest temperatures of 5 to 10 degrees, coolest in the north and mildest in the southwest, with light to moderate variable winds, fresher in the southwest early on.

Becoming cloudy on Thursday night with outbreaks of rain and drizzle spreading eastwards across the country. Lows of 2 to 6 degrees, with light southwesterly winds freshening through the night.

A windy day on Friday with outbreaks of rain and showers, heavy at times, spreading eastwards across the country. Some brighter spells will develop in the afternoon. Highest temperatures of 9 to 12 degrees. Windy with fresh to strong southwesterly winds.

Saturday is promised another breezy day, current indications are that outbreaks of rain and drizzle will become patchier as they clear northwards through the day, with scattered showers following. Highest temperatures of 9 to 13 degrees, milder further south, with moderate to fresh southwesterly winds.

Further outlook: Continuing unsettled and mixed for the remainder of the weekend and into next week with Atlantic low pressure remaining dominant.