A week after record high temperatures for March, Ireland is preparing for April snowfalls.

An Arctic blast has already treated Scotland to snow on Tuesday and parts of Ireland are expected to follow suit.

Weathermen say the clear skies and sunshine of last week are to be replaced by unseasonal low temperatures.

Many parts of the country will see temperatures fall below zero on Tuesday and Wednesday nights with snow expected on high ground.

Met Eireann, the government’s weather service, is forecasting wet and breezy conditions over Munster and much of Connacht and Leinster.

Ulster will experience cold and windy weather with hail and sleet showers and the possibility of snow.
Temperatures are expected to plunge to as low as minus 40 degrees Fahrenheit on Tuesday and Wednesday night with Thursday also expected to be cold.

Daytime temperatures could go as high as 52 degrees according to a report in the Irish Times.
 
Easter temperatures will be low with rain expected over the weekend.

New figures released by Met Eireann have confirmed that near record high temperatures were experienced across Ireland in March.

Sunshine totals for the month were also above average everywhere.

March also saw less rainfall than normal, with Mullingar, Co Westmeath, reporting its driest March since 1961.