Cold Snap Brings Frost, Icy Roads and Biting Windchill to Cork

Cork faces a sharp drop in temperatures this week as Arctic air sweeps across Munster, bringing widespread frost, icy patches and a noticeable windchill factor that will make conditions feel significantly colder than thermometer readings suggest.

Met Éireann has issued a forecast warning of daytime temperatures struggling to reach 6 to 10 degrees today, Tuesday 18 November, but feeling considerably colder due to fresh and gusty northerly winds. The windchill effect will be particularly pronounced in exposed areas and along the coast.

Rain and drizzle clearing this morning will give way to sunny spells and scattered showers from the northwest. West to northwest winds will increase to moderate to fresh and gusty levels through the afternoon, veering northerly later and becoming stronger in coastal parts. The combination of relatively low temperatures and strengthening winds will create a raw, cold feel throughout the day.

Tonight will bring the first widespread frost of this cold spell, with temperatures dropping to between minus 1 and plus 3 degrees. Clear spells will dominate, though scattered showers will continue in the north and west of the region. Any showers that do occur could turn wintry with hail or sleet possible. Moderate to fresh and gusty northerly winds will continue strong in western coastal areas but will ease inland towards morning. Frost and icy patches are expected to form widely overnight.

Wednesday 19 November will remain cold with sunshine and scattered showers, mainly in the west during the morning before spreading elsewhere in the afternoon. Temperatures will reach just 4 to 8 degrees, but the windchill from moderate north to northwest winds will make it feel considerably colder. The winds will be fresher near the west coast, adding to the raw conditions. Some showers may fall as hail or sleet.

Wednesday night marks the coldest point of this spell, with temperatures plummeting to between minus 3 and plus 2 degrees. The coldest conditions are expected in the east and south, with a fairly widespread frost and icy patches developing. Clear spells will continue with scattered showers remaining mainly in the north and west, some of them wintry. Light to moderate north to northwest winds will be slightly fresher near coasts.

Thursday 20 November will begin with a cold and frosty start. Sunny spells will feature through the day, with showers mainly in the west and north becoming increasingly isolated. Some showers may still be wintry in nature. Highest temperatures will struggle to reach just 3 to 7 degrees in light to moderate northwesterly breezes, though winds will remain fresh at times near eastern and southern coasts.

Conditions will turn very cold soon after dark on Thursday night, with clear skies and light variable breezes. Temperatures will fall to between minus 3 and plus 2 degrees with frost and icy patches forming. Cloud will gradually thicken from the west overnight as milder Atlantic air begins to approach.

Friday 21 November will see a marked change as milder Atlantic air returns. Rain and drizzle will spread eastwards through the morning and afternoon, accompanied by freshening southerly winds. Afternoon temperatures will range from 4 or 5 degrees in the northeast to 10 or 11 degrees near western and southwestern coasts.

Motorists are advised to exercise extreme caution on Tuesday and Wednesday mornings when frost and icy patches will be most widespread. The windchill factor throughout the period will make outdoor conditions feel significantly colder than actual temperatures, and exposed areas will be particularly affected.