More snow on the way, but not before the weekend storm

Don’t get carried away with the joys of spring just yet. With March around the corner more snow, hail and sleet is on the way for next week.

Winter is still well and truly here as the second highest weather alert is in place this weekend for wind, with gusts to 130km/h expected.

However, next week it will change again as Met Éireann predicts a build up of snow from Sunday to mid-week.

Temperatures will drop to minus 2 degrees on Sunday night and hail and sleet showers are expected through the night.

While there will be sunny spells during the day, frost and icy patches are to be expected on roads.

The snow showers are expected to continue through the week.

Met Éireann forecaster Pat Clarke said the weather would be very mixed and unsettled over the coming days.

“The weather will deteriorate as the day progresses (on Saturday). It’ll be worst in the evening. Extremely windy and blustery,” he said.

Mr Clarke said the north and west of the country were more likely to see a “covering of snow” next week.

“Even though it’ll be March 1st, the weather will continue with wintry feel more than anything,” he said.

“It’s March of many weathers. It’s meant to be the start of spring on Sunday but the weather doesn’t always start on cue.”

Monday will be very cold as temperatures will drop to minus 3.

Tuesday has a similar outlook with further wintry and thundery showers.

Widespread frost is expected on Wednesday night but Thursday will be dry, sunny and a little less cold.

An orange wind alert is in place for this weekend. This level of warning - the second highest of three - means the weather has the capacity to impact significant on people in affected areas.

It is in place for counties Galway, Donegal, Mayo and Sligo.

Saturday afternoon through to Sunday morning will be extremely windy with wind speeds of up to 80km/h and gusts to to 130km/h on coasts.

A yellow wind warning is in place for counties Dublin, Kildare, Longford, Louth, Wexford, Wicklow Westmeath, Meath, Roscommon, Clare, Cork, Kerry, Limerick and Waterford on Saturday and Sunday.

The Road Safety Authority (RSA) is advising all road users to take extreme care and beware of falling debris.

“High sided vehicles and motorcyclists are particularly vulnerable to strong winds,” it said.

The authority warned for high seas, high tides and possible coastal flooding.