Met Eireann warns of dangerous driving conditions

Met Eireann is warning motorists of dangerous driving conditions this weekend

It is to turn bitterly cold with thundery downpours turning wintery at times as temperatures drop to 3-4 degrees below average for this time of year.

Midland Weather Channel’s Cathal Nolan says night time temperatures will fall below freezing and has advised motorists to keep eye out for icy patches on secondary roads.

“It’s not an exceptional cold spell but what is exceptional is that it has occurred the first and second week of April. If we had seen this in December, January and February, we definitely would have expected snow.”

Forecast

Today, Thursday, Met Eireann are predicting temperatures of between 9 - 12 degrees, while winds will be strong and gusty, with passing showers turning thundery at times. It will be cold and clear tonight.

Friday will start bright but heavy rain will spread countrywide, and temperatures are set to fall back to between 6 - 10 degrees.

Weekend Outlook

It will turn bitterly cold tomorrow night, with the mercury dropping to -3 in places.

On Saturday Met Eireann is warning motorists about heavy thundery showers. Temperatures will fall back dramatically in and around these, which may merge to longer spells of rain or hail, causing impaired visibility and possibly leading to dangerous driving conditions.

Sunday will start out very cold and will remain mostly dry and bright throughout.