Winter has arrived in Ireland and a top meteorologist has warned that snow could even hit parts of the country by the end of the week.
The brief Indian summer ended with a bang on Monday morning when the nation awoke to driving winds and a major drop in temperature.
The rapid change from a mild start to October will be magnified when heavy rain and possible snow lands later this week.
Thundery showers and winds gusting up to 90 miles an hour are expected to batter parts of Connacht, Munster and Leinster by the end of the week.
Weather forecaster Pat Clarke from Met Eireann confirmed the warm weather is gone for good this year.
Clarke confirmed: “This week, it’s going to be much more unsettled, much cooler than we’ve had. People may be shocked by the change.
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“We’ve had an exceptionally mild couple of weeks when temperatures have been two to four degrees above normal.
“Coming from that, we’ll be going to temperatures coming back to normal, and even below normal this week.
“Some nights we’ll have frost and we haven’t had that this autumn/winter yet. It is going to be a lot colder, a lot windier and a lot more unsettled.”
It’s only going to get worse for Ireland next week with rain, wind and sleet on the way.
“The heat is certainly gone anyway and we’re back to changeable blustery, rainy weather at times,” added Clarke.
“It’s a big change really from what we’ve had. There will be occasional glimpses of sunshine but we won’t have the temperatures to go with it.”
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Switch to the desktop site to post a comment.aloistmartin | Oct 20, 2011, 04:13 AM EDT
My Heart Cries Out For Love And All That Goes With Loving Love In Song - Love In Song My, You're So Fine When Love Is Mine I Can't Go Wrong, Love In Song - Love In Song I Can See The Places That We Used To Go To Now Happiness In The Homeland Happiness In The Homeland My Eye Cries Out A Tear Still Born Misunderstanding Love In Song - Love In Song I Can See The Places That We Used To Go To Now Happiness In The Homeland Happiness In The Homeland My, You're So Fine When Love Is Mine I Can't Go Wrong, Love In Song - Love In Song - Love In Song.
KerryLKing | Oct 18, 2011, 12:17 PM EDT
Ah, I can smell the turf fires now....wish I was there. Cause there's nothing like a "good turf fire & a hot whiskey in a lively pub"...
Springfield9 | Oct 18, 2011, 11:15 AM EDT
SKI IRELAND!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
MacGiobuinR | Oct 17, 2011, 05:10 PM EDT
It is just snow, everything looks clean, and if ye gets enough of it, it can cushion your falls. And it is another good reason to turn out to a Pub and make new friends, sing a few songs and hoist up a couple of pints,... now that is always good craic! Slainte!
peterson | Oct 17, 2011, 03:21 PM EDT
I'll just put a little Jameson's in my coffee -- Slainte !!
cillowen | Oct 17, 2011, 02:38 PM EDT
a pretty awful beauty of pain
jfoynyc | Oct 17, 2011, 11:46 AM EDT
Note the contradiction in the article which mentions the end of a 'brief Indian Summer' and that there has been no frost. Wikipedia et al. define "Indian Summer" as "A period of considerably above normal temperatures, accompanied by dry and hazy conditions, usually after there has been a killing frost." No frost, no Indian Summer!
seagreen | Oct 17, 2011, 11:42 AM EDT
A couple of pickups with a plow and sander might be a good investment for someone in Donegal.
minstrel312 | Oct 17, 2011, 09:50 AM EDT
I think this can't come as real good news to friends in Sligo and Letterkenny either. On the other hand, if one enjoys skiing or ice-skating?
errigal | Oct 17, 2011, 09:36 AM EDT
I HOPE THEY HAVE PLENTY OF SALT FOR THE COUNTRY.