A brief reprieve from sub-zero temperatures may be on the way this weekend, but frosty weather could make a return as early as next Tuesday.

The arctic airmass that has been sitting over the country since the middle of last week continues to bring freezing conditions as a Status Orange low temperature and ice warning came into effect at 7pm last night and will remain in place until at least midday today (Thursday).

The county experienced its lowest temperatures on Sunday night last when Athenry weather station recorded a low of -8.2°C, with Met Éireann predicting similar lows for last night as they issued the weather warning.

Another Status Orange warning was issued on Wednesday afternoon for today (Thursday), effective from 6pm until midday on Friday as another extremely cold night of weather was forecast.

Alan Reilly of Carlow Weather told the Connacht Tribune that things were due to heat up slightly on Sunday and Monday, but there was a cold airmass that had the potential push back in, bringing with it wintry conditions – albeit not as cold as those experienced in recent days.

“It will start to get milder on Sunday, but some people are taking that to mean a return to normal, but it looks like colder conditions could return on Tuesday or Wednesday – probably not as cold but cool enough.

“The models for next week are very uncertain – some charts are showing a risk of wintry showers next week in the north and north west,” said Mr Reilly.

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