Ireland appears to be heading for a sharp Arctic cold spell next week, with weather models suggesting temperatures could fall to -2C and the first snow showers of the season may develop in some regions.
Following a period of wet and unsettled weather, Met Eireann has confirmed a significant shift for the week spanning Monday, November 17 to Sunday, November 23, reports The Mirror.
A high-pressure system forming in the Atlantic is forecast to draw cold northern air down over Ireland. This will result in cooler-than-average temperatures, more stable and drier weather, and reduced rainfall compared with typical levels for this time of year.
The national forecaster explained: “There is a signal for a northerly air-flow to become established over Ireland during the week as a Blocking High Pressure develops in the mid-Atlantic. The weather is likely to turn somewhat more settled with rainfall totals during the week forecast to be near or below normal. Mean air temperatures are likely to trend around or slightly below the climatological average,” reports The Mirror.
Although Met Eireann’s official outlook does not explicitly mention snow, long-range charts point to the possibility of wintry conditions emerging next week, with nighttime temperatures expected to dip below freezing in several counties.
These projections also indicate that the first snowfall could appear in the southwest as early as Tuesday, November 18, before additional wintry showers reach the northwest on Wednesday, November 19, and eventually move into northern areas by Friday, November 21, reports The Mirror.
Temperature charts also show a cold spell extending from Monday, November 17 through Saturday, November 22, with freezing conditions predicted overnight in various locations. Some counties may see temperatures drop to -2C.
Before the colder air mass arrives, unsettled weather is expected to persist through the remainder of this week. A Status Yellow weather warning remains in effect for Antrim, Armagh, Down, Fermanagh, Tyrone and Derry until 9pm this evening, due to ongoing heavy and persistent rain that could lead to travel issues and isolated flooding, reports The Mirror.
For the coming days, Met Eireann has said conditions will “stay rather unsettled with rain or showers at times and temperatures returning to normal for most areas.”
The main shift is expected next week, when the combined influence of a northerly airflow and the Atlantic high-pressure system may bring colder, drier and potentially snowy weather to parts of Ireland, reports The Mirror.
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