"The Beast from the East" is about to hit Ireland.Flickr

Ireland's weather watchdogs Met Éireann have warned of a "very serious" blizzard threat which is about to hit the country this week.

Ireland is preparing for a Siberian freeze dubbed the "Beast from the East" according to leading experts.

Ireland could see snowfall to rival the debilitating 10-day blizzard the country experienced in January 1982. On that occasion, the Irish Army had to be called in as temperatures went as low as minus 3 degrees Fahrenheit. The storm was dubbed the "Big Snow"

Forecaster Cathal Nolan predicts similar heavy snow and snow drifts which could last over a week and lead to highly dangerous conditions.

It is believed that temperatures will plummet to 40 degrees Fahreneheit below normal. 

As conditions are set to get steadily worse, some experts believe the very rare status-red warnings could be imminent. Winds from Siberia and the North Pole will bring snow, sleet showers, and freezing conditions which could affect Ireland until mid-March.

Met Éireann forecaster Joanna Donnelly told the Irish Times that Irish people should not get complacent about the unusually warm weather the country is currently experiencing.

From Tuesday, disruptive snow showers will hit Ireland, causing temperatures to drop to lows of -7 degrees celsius/19 degrees Fahrenheit. (For context: Temperatures for January and February, the coldest months for Ireland, usually fall between 4 - 7 °C /39.2 - 44.6 °F.)

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The National Emergency Coordination Group for Severe Weather will meet on Monday to discuss strategy. Meanwhile, Met Eireann has advised people to keep warm, eat well, avoid unnecessary travel, and check in on their elderly neighbors and relatives.

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