Time to bundle up! Temperatures are going to plummet to -3 this weekend

Brrrrrr.

Earlier this week, Met Éireann warned that a "colder arctic airmass" was going to sweep through the country this week. And despite knowing that the colder days and nights were ahead, that doesn't mean we were any more prepared when we saw this weekend's forecast. The weather forecasters have issued an update about what the Bank Holiday weekend has in store and...well, you're going to want to break out the cosy jumpers. And the hot water bottles. And fuzzy socks. Anything warm, really. Friday is going to be a cold and windy day with a mix of sunshine and showers, according to forecasters. The rainfall, which will be occasionally be heavy with hail and a risk of thunder, will be most frequent in Connacht, Ulster and west Munster. The highest temperatures will range from 7C to 10C - but Met Éireann forecasters have warned it's going to feel much colder than this. Showers will continue to move down over the country from the north, with a continued risk of hail and thunder on Friday night. There is also a small possibility of "wintry falls", these chiefly in Ulster and north Connacht, though accumulations look likely to be restricted to the mountains. Long clear spells will also occur, especially inland in the east and south, with temperatures dropping to 0 in some parts of the country. Frost and icy patches are possible, especially where showers have occurred and there is some sheltering from the gusty northwesterly winds. Saturday is going to be another cold day, with wind chill continuing and crisp, sunny spells alternating with widespread showers - again, heavy at times with a risk of hail and thunder. The showers will be particularly frequent in coastal areas of west, north and east with inland parts of the south likely to see the least number of showers. The highest temperatures will be between 6C to 9C, with the showers becoming increasingly confined to the coasts as the evening goes on. Temperatures will plummet to -3C in some parts of the country on Saturday night, with widespread frost forming by dawn and a risk of icy patches. Sunday will start off mostly dry and fine, with a risk of some showers along the eastern seaboard. Temperatures will reach highs of 7C to 10C, although it will feel warmer than the previous few days (thankfully). [caption id="attachment_324639" align="alignnone" width="6016"] Sad woman with cold or flu blowing her nose with a tissue under autumn rain. Brunette female sneezing and wearing warm clothes against cold weather. Illness, depression and allergy concept.[/caption] Met Éireann bosses have forecast another cold night, with temperatures dropping to between -2C to +2C - and nit will, be the coldest across the eastern half of the country early in the night. As for the Bank Holiday Monday, the forecast says that it looking like a cloudy - but dry - start to many places in the country. The eastern and southern coasts may experience isolated light showers. Sunny spells will develop over the eastern half of the country, though it does look as though it will stay cloudy further west, with some rain possible in the Atlantic coastal fringes. Highs of 7C to 10C degrees in mostly moderate southeasterly winds, freshening near Atlantic coasts.