Snow go area: ‘Big Freeze’ set to thaw as temperatures rise to 11 degrees

THE ‘Big Freeze’ that hit Kilkenny and the rest of the country in recent days is set to thaw dramatically over the coming days.

Widespread sleet and snow warnings didn’t materialise in Kilkenny, with just a light dusting of the white stuff decorating some of the highlands in the North and West of the country.

And now the first true cold snap of the winter is set to melt away with temperatures set to hit a positively balmy 11 degrees before the weekend.

Snow accumulations of between 1cm and 2cm were expected in some areas yesterday morning, but no major disruption was reported.

Met Éireann has forecast an upwards swing in temperatures, with a forecast of up to 11 degrees by Friday.

The national forecaster said it will be “mild and mostly dry, with a few bright spells, but predominantly cloudy” as we head into the weekend.

But before that there will still be some cold snaps to get over, including some frost and ice patches.

Temperatures tonight will be cold, ranging from -1C to 2C.

Met Éireann said: “Current indications suggest it will become colder again this coming weekend, but there is still some uncertainty as to the exact detail.”