Cold weather to remain until Friday as midlands records coldest temperature of 2013

The midlands will have to bear "desperately cold" weather until Friday, a Met Eireann forecaster has warned. Speaking to the Offaly Independent forecaster Pat Clarke said the coldest temperatures of the year were recorded in the midlands last night (Monday), with sub-zero temperatures expected to remain in the area until weather systems from the Atlantic break through at the end of the week bringing rain and milder temperatures. The midlands bears the dubious honour of being the coldest part of the country so far this week. Last night - the coldest of the year so far - air temperatures of -5.3 degrees Celsius and -6.3 degrees Celsius were recorded at weather stations in Mullingar and Gurteen respectively. Even colder grass temperatures were recorded on the same night, with Gurteen station recording -10.9 degrees Celsius and Mullingar -10.2. Temperatures have been struggling to rise this week so far, with cold weather both at night and during the day. Temperatures tonight (Tuesday) are expected to remain somewhere between -4 degrees Celsius and -6 degrees, with frost, ice and fog all featuring. Tomorrow and Thursday are to remain "desperately cold" according to Mr Clarke, with sub-zero temperatures the norm. Wednesday is to remain fairly dry however, with any showers experienced light. The highest temperatures we can expect during the day are just two or three degrees, but Mr Clarke said it's just as likely it will remain freezing. Friday brings respite from the particularly lo temperatures however, thanks to Atlantic weather systems moving in. Heavy rain is likely on Friday, however daytime temperatures are expected to reach five or six degrees Celsius. That rain is expected to clear by late Friday, with a frosty night expected. Saturday will be mostly dry, with temperatures soaring to nine or ten degrees. Rain will push in from the Atlantic on Saturday night and Sunday will be showery. However daytime temperatures are expected to remain at nine or ten degrees on Sunday. Though milder weather is expected during the day from Friday, midlanders are being warned that nighttime temperatures are still likely to dip to sub-zero levels.