Ireland is facing its first cold snap of the season as Arctic air sweeps south.

Temperatures are set to fall sharply over the coming nights with ice and frost expected in many areas. Mountain tops across Ulster, including Errigal and the Mournes, could see a dusting of snow from isolated wintry showers drifting south.

No weather warnings have been issued for Ireland, but the UK Health Security Agency has introduced an amber cold health alert for the North West, North East, Yorkshire and Humber. Warnings for snow and ice remain in force for Scotland and northern England until Thursday.

Although most parts of Ireland will see sunshine in the coming days, daytime temperatures will remain well below average. Conditions will dip on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday as an Arctic maritime airmass settles over Ireland and Britain. Daytime values will struggle to rise above 4 to 6 degrees in most locations, while overnight lows could fall to between minus three and minus five, especially in sheltered inland areas of Leinster, east Munster and east Ulster.

Milder weather is expected to arrive from the Atlantic later on Friday, reaching the west coast shortly after dark.

A return to unsettled conditions in a less cold west to northwesterly airflow will dominate Ireland’s weather through the weekend and into next week.