Cold snap to linger in Ireland with frosts below zero until next week

Temperatures across most of Ireland have fallen below zero and are expected to remain low until early next week, according to weather expert Alan O’Reilly.

O’Reilly told Newstalk Breakfast that a “good frost” recorded overnight reached –5.4 °C, producing visible frost on cars and grass in many counties. He warned that while daytime temperatures may rise on Saturday, strong breezes will increase the wind chill, making it feel colder.

The forecaster said the coldest period is likely to arrive on Monday and Tuesday, with a further drop in temperatures on Sunday night as a cold air mass moves south. Rain is expected to affect the southern half of the country from Monday night into Tuesday, which could bring a modest rise in temperatures there.

O’Reilly noted that the lingering cold may start to impact heating bills and highlighted uncertainty over longer‑term patterns. He mentioned a warming event in the stratosphere and possible high‑pressure systems to the north that could increase the chance of cold weather towards the end of the month and early December, though he cautioned that the impact remains uncertain.

When asked about the prospect of a white Christmas, O’Reilly joked that Ireland is “due one” and suggested he might place a small bet on it.

Source: Newstalk. Photo: https://kaboompics.com/ / Pexels.