MET ÉIREANN HAS forecast a cloudy start to 2026 with cold weather to begin late this week and into the weekend.

The national forecaster said a drop in temperatures from the weekend onwards may cause “very cold” weather.

Despite colder weather kicking in on Friday, many places will stay largely dry.

National forecast

According to Met Éireann, today will be mostly cloudy and dry with some light rain and drizzle. Temperatures will stay between three to seven degrees.

Similar weather will continue tonight with frost expected to develop in the north and west, where temperatures of minus two to two degrees are expected.

Tomorrow will also start off cloudy, but part of the north and west can expect sunny spells to break through. Most of the country will remain dry and temperatures may reach up to eight degrees.

Tuesday night will be cold and dry with clear spells. Fog or freezing fog is also expected as temperatures are forecast to stay between minus three and one degrees.

New Year’s Eve will start out frosty. Fog and or freezing fog will be slow to clear but sunny spells and dry weather will develop. Temperatures of between two to six degrees are expected.

There will be some rain and drizzle on Wednesday night, with lowest temperatures of minus two to three degrees expected.

New Year’s Day will be cloudy with patchy outbreaks of rain and drizzle spreading from the north.

The weather will be slightly milder, with highest temperatures of five to eight degrees, however this is forecast to drop from Friday.