The weather is bad. Don’t worry, we’re into the deep mid winter now and, as a reminder, the weather is taking a lurch towards the colder, wetter sort with the possibility of a little dusting of snow in places.
Birds are feeding ravenously on seeds and fatballs outside my window and, inside, my weather crock is resting at its lowest ebb for a while. That’s not good. But it is seasonal after all. And there is talk of a storm – Caroline is its name – for tomorrow.
The following is the Met Éireann menu for the rest of the week.
Today
Cloudy and windy today, with scattered outbreaks of rain throughout the day; the heaviest of which will occur this evening.
Drier brighter spells too though, especially inland and across the east. The rain will however turn heavy and persistent at times along southern and western counties, especially later with the risk of spot flooding as well as thunder. Hill and coastal fog too. Mild for the time of year, in fresh to strong and gusty southerly winds. Maximum temperatures 11 to 13 degrees Celsius.
Tonight
Tonight will be windy and mostly cloudy, with further outbreaks of rain, turning heavy and possibly thundery with the risk of spot flooding.
Clearer weather will very gradually follow from the west and northwest later. Very mild for much of the night but turning colder later. Minimum temperatures 4 to 6 degrees Celsius. Fresh to strong southerly winds will veer west to northwest with the clearance, strengthening further along west and northwest coasts with gales developing.
Tomorrow
Tomorrow Thursday will be a cold, bright and windy day.
Generally dry to begin with winter sunshine, but scattered rain and hail showers will start to feed down in the brisk northwest flow. Some of the showers will be heavy, with a risk of thunder. The showers will also turn increasingly wintry later in the afternoon and evening, with snow accumulations possible. Again north and northwest areas will be most at risk, but a slight dusting could occur in other parts. Maximum temperatures 6 to 9 Celsius early on, but turning much colder, in strong and gusty west to northwest winds, up to gale force along northern coasts.
Outlook
Bitterly cold for the rest of the week, with further wintry showers and frosty nights, but becoming less cold by Sunday.
Thursday night: Bitterly cold and windy, with clear spells and wintry showers of hail, sleet and snow, most frequent in Ulster, Connacht and in west Munster, but in other areas also. There is also a risk of thunder in Atlantic coastal areas, especially in the north and northwest. Minimum temperatures minus 2 to plus 2 Celsius, with frost and icy stretches, especially in places sheltered from the fresh northwesterly wind.
Friday
Still bitterly cold, with a mix of sunny spells and scattered wintry showers, most of the showers in the north and in Atlantic coastal counties.
Maximum temperatures 2 to 5 Celsius, in fresh to strong northwesterly winds.
Winds will ease overnight and many areas will become dry, with clear spells, but there will be further wintry showers, mainly in the north and east. Widespread frost also, with icy stretches. Minimum temperatures minus 3 to plus 2 Celsius, highest values in Atlantic coastal areas. A few mist or fog patches many form.
Saturday
Frost, ice will clear during the morning, giving way to a mostly dry, bright day, with sunny intervals, but some further wintry showers will occur, mainly in the north and northeast.
Max. 4 to 8 Celsius, in light to moderate west to northwest winds, decreasing light westerly.
Saturday Night will be very cold at first, with frost, mainly in the midlands, east and north. A spell of persistent and heavy rain will move in from the Atlantic, extending gradually eastwards, turning to sleet and possibly snow in places for a time, especially over high ground and possibly at lower levels in the north and northwest. However, temperatures will rise later, in freshening southerly winds.
Sunday
Brightening up, with sunny spells, but scattered showers also, especially in the north and west.
Less cold than previous days. Max. 6 to 9 C, in fresh west to northwest winds.
Monday
Cold again, with sunny spells and scattered showers, some of them turning wintry, especially over high ground.
Further Outlook, Tuesday onwards: Changeable and unsettled.
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