Ice & wintry showers

The air temperature will remain close to or below freezing above about 1000 FT today, with ice and frost on any untreated surfaces. Air temperatures at lower levels between 3 and 6 Celsius, but falling to between 1 and minus 2°C tonight, away from coastal areas exposed to the fresh to strong northerly wind. Surface temperatures soon falling sub-zero this evening, leading to ice / black ice forming on any untreated damp or wet roads and pavements. Hoar (white) frost should be minimal, though, thanks to the relatively low humidity. The temperatures will recover, again, to about 4°C tomorrow with another mostly dry and bright or sunny day in prospect.

There's still a risk of isolated wintry showers later today, tonight and tomorrow but these are most likely to be confined to clipping just the far south and southwest corners of the island. Any slight accumulations of hail and snow will be short-lived at low-levels but may cause more icy patches.

Outlook: Wintry showers are expected to become more widespread and fairly frequent during Sunday, as fresh winds become northwesterly, with mostly slight accumulations of hail or snow possible at all levels. The wintry showers become isolated by Sunday night as the wind swings northerly again but, under the clearer sky, temperatures will tumble to near freezing in many places to give ice on any untreated damp or wet surfaces. Temperatures will then slowly recover during Monday morning, and it should be mostly dry.

The situation will continue to be monitored, and any further updates or warnings will be issued if necessary.