'You'll want the big coat' - Ireland windchill forecast for -8 degree big freeze

Forecasters have warned that Ireland is set for a bitterly cold week with snow, subzero temperatures, freezing fog, and widespread frost and ice leading to hazardous travelling conditions across the country.

Ireland is set to be gripped with a major cold spell for the week with temperatures dipping as low as -8 overnight in some parts with a host of warnings and advisories issued.

Met Eireann has this morning issued a new Status Yellow low temperature and ice warning for the entire country warning of "severe frost and icy stretches" and "difficult travelling conditions" coming into effect from 6pm this evening until 11am Tuesday. 

Separately, a Status Yellow snow-ice warning will be active for Donegal from 6pm this evening until 11am on Tuesday. Cavan, Monaghan, Leitrim and Louth were also issued with the same warning which comes into place from midnight on Tuesday until 11am.

On Sunday, Met Eireann issued a weather advisory spanning the entire country which will be in place until 12pm on Friday, warning of winter hazards brought by "Arctic air".

Alan O'Reilly from Carlow Weather is also watching weather models and shared an update with followers on Sunday.

"The windchill forecast for next four mornings in images, you’ll want the big coat," he said. "Many areas will be mainly dry but wintry showers are likely in North and Northwest with some snow there."

The windchill forecast for next four mornings in images, you’ll want the big coat. Many areas will be mainly dry but wintry showers are likely in North and Northwest with some snow there. pic.twitter.com/tG0VpDir3D

— Carlow Weather (@CarlowWeather) January 14, 2024

Meanwhile, Met Éireann's forecast for Ireland's cold spell shows that freezing temperatures are here to stay amid warnings and advisories. 

The national forecaster says tonight will be very cold with frost and icy patches with lowest temperatures of -5 to 0 degrees. "Clear spells in many areas with some fog patches" before "becoming cloudier in Ulster, north Connacht and north Leinster with outbreaks of rain, sleet and snow moving developing in the northwest and spreading eastwards overnight."

"Tuesday will continue very cold. Frost and ice in many areas, clearing slowly and lingering on places. Some further out breaks of rain, sleet or snow in Ulster, north Connacht and north Leinster, turning mostly to rain. Brighter further south with some sunshine. Highest temperatures of 2 to 6 degrees with moderate southwest to west winds."

Looking ahead, Met Eireann predicts it will be "very cold through the working week with widespread frost and ice leading to hazardous travelling conditions. Plenty of dry weather expected away from the north and northwest where wintry showers will be most frequent."

Wednesday will be "a bitterly cold day with frost, ice, fog and freezing fog at first leading to hazardous travelling conditions, slow to clear through the morning." Otherwise, it will be a largely dry day with good spells of winter sunshine through scattered showers of sleet and snow. "Lowest temperatures of -5 to -2 degrees in mostly light northwest breezes."

Looking at Thursday, Met Éireann says that it will be "a frosty or icy start, followed by another very cold day with scattered wintry showers in the north and northwest. Generally dry and sunny elsewhere with just the odd stray shower possible." Overnight temperatures are expected to fall between -5 and -2 degrees.

Friday will be another very cold and bright start to the day with widespread frost and some icy stretches. The forecaster predicts scattered showers will mainly affect "Atlantic counties", with the highest afternoon temperatures of 2 to 6 degrees,

Meanwhile, next weekend is set to be unsettled but milder, as wet and breezy, possibly windy, weather moves over the country.