Weather takes another turn – but Ireland likely to escape ‘polar plunge’

KILKENNY will experience a real mixed bag of weather this week as our neighbours across the water brace themselves for the ‘polar plunge’ that’s set to hit the UK.

Met Éireann said Ireland is safe for the time being as temperatures in Britain plummeted to colder levels than Moscow yesterday.

British media are reporting that a 2,000 mile wide North Pole chill is bringing -6C temperatures,  snow and widespread frosts – and that 50mph storms will follow as a ‘polar plunge’ sweeps through Europe all the way to Africa.

Closer to home, Met Éireann said today will start off fine with a few bright or hazy spells of sunshine, although it will be mostly cloudy overall in Kilkenny and throughout Leinster.

The national forecaster said: “While it will be dry in most parts, there’ll be a few showers around. Highest temperatures of 10 to 14 degrees in light to moderate southeasterly breezes.”

Tomorrow morning will also be cloudy, with scattered outbreaks of rain.

However, temperatures are set to plummet on Thursday, with widespread rain. Met Éireann said: “Sunny spells and widespread slow-moving heavy showers, merging into longer spells of rain, with the risk of hail and thunder. Spot flooding is possible.”

But the forecast is better for next weekend, which will see “a gradual return to more seasonal temperatures”, according to the national forecaster.