Will a second ‘Beast from the East’ strike this Bank Holiday weekend?

Uncertainty surrounds the weather forecast for this St Patrick Day weekend, but some forecasters fear another cold snap may arrive for the festivities. 

Met Eireann’s forecast does not track far enough ahead to Saturday 17th March, but early signs show that another cold system is stirring over eastern Europe and Scandinavia. The spring sunshine could turn back to cold, snowy and icy conditions if there is a ‘Beast 2.0’, as some forecasters speculate.

TV3 Forecaster Deric Ó hArtagáin suggested that the cold spell could reach Ireland by Sunday 18th March.

Deric tweeted: “So …no need for alarm just yet but something is stirring for next weekend. Could #BeastFromTheEast could be making a come back?! Early tracking models for next Sunday 18th. Nothing confirmed. Will be keeping a close eye!!”

From early charts, there is a chance that Ireland will be caught in the battleground of warm and wet Atlantic air and the cold front from the East.

BBC weatherman Simon King also shared his suspicion over the impact of the incoming weather on the UK and Ireland:

Met Eireann are not confirming any severe weather year, but have forecast a colder spell from Friday following some milder frost-free nights this week.

According to Met.ie: “The weather for the weekend is still rather uncertain with low pressure remaining to the west of Ireland and a high pressure system building over Scandinavia, but current indications suggest that Saturday, St Patrick’s Day will be a windy day with easterly winds increasing fresh or strong and turning colder with scattered showers.”