The first snow of 2019 arrived in Laois yesterday and a forecaster is predicting that we are going to see a lot more of the fluffy stuff in the coming weeks.
The Laois Weather Facebook page posted pictures of a nice dusting of snow up on the Slieve Bloom Mountains.
And now Cathal Nolan of the Midland Weather Channel says that, after a mild Winter, temperatures are set to plummet from next week.
He said: “So far winter 2018/19 has been mild, very mild indeed, however that all looks set to change as we look towards next week, with cold conditions developing through Tuesday and persisting thereafter for much of the foreseeable future.
“Snow looks likely for many at some point during next week, with northern and western areas most at risk on Tuesday and Wednesday, while eastern areas will be most likely to experience snow from Thursday onwards.
“Temperatures during this period are expected to remain in the low single figures, with severe night frosts likely, especially in any areas where snow accumulates. Nighttime values may reach as low as -3 to -5 degrees in some locations.
“Just how much snow we see and the exact duration and intensity of the cold spell remain a little unknown.
“Initially any snow may lead to temporary accumulations during Tuesday and Wednesday, while any snowfall from Thursday onwards may stick around a little longer.”
After that, the forecaster says it is a little but more difficult to predict just what way the weather will go.
He said: “Beyond the midweek period our weather remains difficult to forecast. Some scenarios indicate that a battle will develop between the very cold air to the north and east, and the warmer air to the south and west.
“Where those two air masses meet there is the potential for some significant snowfall, but such events are too far off to predict accurately.
“Either way the general trend indicates that the first major cold spell of the winter is imminent, with temperatures falling back below average, while snow looks set to become an increasingly likely component to our weather.”
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