Ireland weather: Met Eireann's updated forecast as snow to follow thunderstorms

Ireland is to be hit with a dusting of snow this weekend but not before thunderstorms pile in over the country.

Met Eireann are forecasting an unpleasant few days ahead with plenty of wind and rain before it gets really cold again at the weekend.

Thursday and Friday are likely to be particularly wet with isolated thunder and lightning in parts.

The forecaster said: "Widespread heavy showers today with the risk of hail and isolated thunderstorms. Spot flooding is possible. Sunny spells at times too though.

"Cold across Ulster with highest temperatures of 3 to 7 degrees Celsius, but milder elsewhere with highs of 8 to 11 degrees Celsius. Breezy across the southern half of Ireland in moderate to fresh southwest winds, but with lighter cyclonic variable breezes elsewhere.

Horses competing on the all-weather surface at Lingfield (Getty)

"Many areas will start off dry on Friday with sunny spells. However, showers will feed into Connacht during the morning and will extend into Munster for the rest of the day. Some wintry falls are possible on higher ground here later. Cold with highest temperatures of 4 to 7 degrees Celsius, in light variable or westerly breezes.

"Clear spells and well scattered showers, mainly across Munster early on, and later across northern and eastern coasts. There will be the risk of hail and isolated thunderstorms. Frost and possible icy stretches too, in light variable mostly northerly breezes. Cold with lowest temperatures of -2 to +2 degrees Celsius."

Friday night into Saturday morning will be extremely cold but Sunday will see the highest probability of some snow for many areas.

The Met Eireann forecaster added: "Very cold with a widespread frost and ice on Sunday. Scattered wintry showers will move into eastern counties and across northern coasts with a possible dusting of snow possible. Lowest temperatures of -3 to 0 degrees Celsius in moderate northeast winds, fresher along Irish Sea coasts.

"Current indications suggest it will turn even colder into next week with sharp to severe frost and ice. Falls of sleet and snow are expected, mainly over east Leinster for the early days of the week."