Ulster

Issued at: 23 February 2020 18:00

TODAY - Sunday 23rd February

Mainly dry this evening. Winds mostly fresh west to northwest, later decreasing light southwesterly or variable.

TONIGHT

Rain tonight, with some heavy falls, leading to localised flooding. The rain will fall as sleet or even snow at first with accumulations in places. Minimum temperatures 0 to 3 Celsius with some frost forecast early. Moderate to fresh southeasterly winds, strong near coasts, will veer southwesterly overnight and increase fresh to strong and gusty with gale force winds along coastal areas.

TOMORROW - Monday 24th February

Tomorrow morning, outbreaks of rain or any sleet and snow will clear. It will brighten in the afternoon with sunny spells developing and a few scattered showers. Maximum afternoon temperatures of 8 to 11 Celsius and fresh to strong and gusty southwest to west winds, veering west to northwest with gales at times along coasts.

National Outlook

Summary: Very cold and unsettled for the rest of the week, with occasional showers or longer spells of rain and some wintry precipitation of sleet and snow at times, especially in Ulster and Connacht. Some dry, bright intervals also. Frost at night.

Monday night: Very cold, with clear spells and scattered showers, the showers most frequent across the western half of the country, with some hail, sleet and snow showers, especially in Ulster and Connacht. Minimum temperatures 0 to 2 Celsius, with a risk of frost, especially in places sheltered from a moderate to fresh westerly wind.

Tuesday: Very cold, with a mix of sunny spells and scattered showers, some of them falling as hail, sleet and snow, especially in the north and west. There is also a risk of thunder, particularly in Atlantic coastal counties. Maximum temperatures just 4 to 7 or 8 Celsius, in mostly moderate to fresh westerly winds, strong along west and southwest coasts. Tuesday night will be windy, with further wintry showers, most of them in the western half of the country. Min. minus 1 to plus 2 Celsius, in moderate to fresh west to northwest winds. Risk of frost and icy patches.

Wednesday: Still very cold, with below normal temperatures. Maximum values only 4 to 8 Celsius, A bright day, with sunny spells, but scattered showers also, some of sleet, with a continuing risk of snow showers, mainly over high ground. Winds mostly moderate to fresh, west to northwest, decreasing light by Wednesday night. Very cold overnight, with sharp or severe frost. Dry in many areas, but some wintry showers will occur in the west and northwest and more persistent rain will develop in southern coastal areas. Min. minus 2 to plus 2 Celsius.

Further outlook: Current indications suggest that it will remain very cold and unsettled for the end of the week and the weekend, with a risk of further wintry precipitation.