Temperatures could plummet as low as -11 tonight but is the end in sight? - Kilkenny Live

Temperatures could plummet as low as -11 tonight in Ireland as Met Eireann forecast when the cold snap will end. 

According to the latest Met Eireann weather forecast, temperatures will reach to -8 to -9 degrees in the Midlands overnight but speaking on Today with Claire Byrne this morning, Met Eireann forecaster Gerry Murphy said there is a possibility of temperatures dropping as low as -11 degrees in some places. 

The Met Eireann forecaster added that he expects the weather to be 'noticeably milder' on Sunday. 

Gardaí warn people in Kilkenny to beware of chocolate giveaway scam

Currently there are two Status Orange Weather Warnings from Met Eireann. 

A Status Orange Low Temperature/Ice warning for Kilkenny, Carlow, Kildare, Laois, Longford, Louth, Meath, Offaly, Westmeath, Cavan, Monaghan, Clare, Cork, Kerry, Limerick, Tipperary, Galway, Leitrim and Roscommon comes into place at 6pm and remains in place until noon on Thursday. It warns that the weather will be extremely cold on Wednesday night with widespread temperatures below -5 degrees leading to severe frost and ice.

A second Met Eireann Status Orange Weather Warning has been issued for Thursday night and Friday morning. The warning, which covers  Leinster, Cavan, Monaghan, Munster and Connacht warns that the weather will be extremely cold on Thursday night and Friday morning with widespread temperatures below -5 degrees leading to severe frost and ice. It comes into place from 6pm on Thursday until noon on Friday.

The full Met Eireann weather forecast for Ireland for the coming days is as follows.

WATCH: Taoiseach confirms that Irish airspace is open for arrival of Santa

According to Met Eireann, it will be very cold tonight with widespread frost and ice. Lowest temperatures falling below -5 degrees widely, reaching -8 or -9 degrees in some Midland areas by Thursday morning. It will remain generally clear and dry in a light northerly breeze, though there will be a few showers in the north and northwest, falling as sleet and snow at times.

Temperatures on Thursday will remain below freezing during the morning everywhere, with some parts of the midlands staying well below freezing through the day. In the afternoon temperatures generally will be between zero and plus 2 degrees, a few degrees higher on coasts. It'll be mainly dry and sunny. There will be a few wintry showers in the north and northwest. Winds will be light northwesterly.

According to Met Eireann, there'll be snow and sleet across parts of Ulster on Thursday night, most other places will stay dry.
Patches of freezing fog may develop as winds fall light. Temperatures again as low as minus 7 degrees fairly widely, staying closer to zero to minus 2 degrees where fog thickens in a light westerly or variable breeze.

Friday may be foggy for a while in places. It will be mainly dry with isolated showers on coasts creeping inland into western areas in the afternoon. Still very cold with afternoon temperatures no higher than plus 1 to 4 degrees in light to moderate southwest winds.

Lowest temperatures of minus 3 degrees to plus 2 degrees on Friday night, there'll be lingering showers of rain and sleet in western areas otherwise it will stay dry.

Vehicle window smashed in Kilkenny

Mainly dry and sunny on Saturday, apart from isolated coastal showers in the south and west. Turning cloudier after nightfall. Daytime temperatures of 2 to 4 degrees generally, temperatures along the south coast will creep up to 7 or 8 degrees.

According to the latest Met Eireann weather forecast, there is still a good deal of uncertainty in the forecast from Saturday night and Sunday onwards. Current indications suggest that an increasing southerly wind will bring rain and a spell of milder weather for a time.