Ireland is set to take a cold plunge later this week as the long rainy spell gives way to frost and ice, with temperatures expected to hit lows of −4 degrees under the influence of an Arctic air mass.
Met Éireann has issued a status yellow ice warning for the whole country from 9pm on Friday until 10am on Saturday. It has warned of hazardous driving conditions and icy conditions underfoot.
The forecaster said Thursday will be generally wet and breezy with scattered showers before the mercury begins to drop overnight.
The north of the country will see rain while the south will experience occasional sunshine. Rain will be heavy at times with possible spot flooding.
READ MORE
It will be coldest in the north with temperatures of 2 to 5 degrees and 6 to 9 degrees further south.
Thursday night will be cloudy, wet and breezy. Frost and ice are to be expected in parts, particularly in the north and west, as lowest temperatures range from −1 to 4 degrees.
Friday is expected to have a cold start with frost and ice persisting in areas.
Cloud and patchy rain will clear, becoming dry with sunny spells and isolated showers, which may become wintry in the north and west. Highest temperatures will reach 3 to 7 degrees.
Friday night will be very cold, frosty and icy as lowest temperatures range from −4 to −1 degrees.
The chilly conditions will continue into Saturday, which is expected to be dry, but with widespread frost and ice.
[ Micheál Martin should get a job with Met ÉireannOpens in new window ]
Cloud will build across the west of the country during the afternoon with wet and windy conditions developing, extending eastward later in the evening, bringing highest temperatures of 4 to 7 degrees.
Rain may fall as sleet for a time through the evening and early night.
Saturday night will be wet and windy with the chance of wintry falls.
Sunday will be windy with scattered rainfalls mainly affecting Munster and Leinster.
Some sunny spells may develop, but scattered showers may occur also, mostly affecting Atlantic counties.
Temperatures will warm up, hitting highs of 9 to 11 degrees.
Meanwhile, Dublin Port has begun essential remedial works to repair the Great South Wall rock armour which was damaged in December’s Storm Bram.
The marine infrastructure was built between 1720 and 1795 and continues to perform an engineering function of safeguarding and sheltering the shipping channel into Dublin Port.
In a statement Dublin Port said that the wall’s rock armour has recently sustained damage from increasingly severe weather, as seen throughout January and also in December.
“During the storm, sections of the existing rock armour, which protects the breakwater, were loosened and displaced,” the statement added. “Urgent remedial works are now required.”
The five-week €2.5m programme of works will involve replacing lost rock armour at the roundhead near Poolbeg Lighthouse, using material sourced from Arklow. A section of the wall, approximately 100 metres from the Poolbeg Lighthouse, is temporarily closed to the public while these works are underway.
Port engineer Eamon McElroy said that following regular laser scanning and 3D modelling of the wall, it was discovered that there was some movement in the rock armour.
“As storms become more severe, we need to work quickly to protect this crucial piece of marine infrastructure,” he added.
“The walls exist in a harsh marine environment requiring us to closely monitor any movement of the rock armour and wall integrity.”
