WEEKEND WEATHER: ‘Widespread frost’ – Kilkenny braced for Big Chill as temperatures plummet

Kilkenny’s in for a big chill this weekend as temperatures plummet across the country.

However, the good news is that plenty of winter sunshine is forecast to take the sting out of the wintry conditions.

Met Éireann said “a widespread frost” will envelop most of the country this morning.

Motorists are being urged to beware of some icy stretches on untreated roads, which will make driving conditions treacherous in parts.

The national forecaster said: “It’ll be a cold and increasingly windy day with sunny spells and some wintry showers early on. Showers will become more widespread during the afternoon and evening, possibly merging to longer spells of rain in places with some wintry falls possible. Highest temperatures of just 4 to 7 degrees.”

Tomorrow will bring further scattered showers to coastal areas, but dry and bright conditions are forecast elsewhere. Met Éireann said highest temperatures will be between 5 to 8 degrees, but with “an added chill factor”.

Sunday should be a largely dry day with light breezes. Met Éireann said: “Sunny spells in the morning will give way to cloudier conditions in the afternoon with rain extending from the southwest by evening. Another cold day with highest temperatures of only of 3 to 6 degrees.”

Heavy rain is forecast overnight on Sunday, which will clear in the west on Monday morning but linger in the south until late afternoon. Met Éireann said some clear spells will develop elsewhere with mostly dry conditions expected, although highest temperatures will be as low as 3 to 6 degrees.

The outlook for the rest of next week is for more cold weather with bright spells for the early parts of the week, but this is expected to change to milder, wetter conditions from midweek.