The mercury is forecast to plunge to four degrees Celsius tonight, the coldest it has been in March for over a decade.

The forecast temperature is unusual but not unheard of, a spokesman for the MIA Met Office said.

The average night time temperature in March is 10.5 degrees Celsius.

The coldest March temperature, at 2.2 degrees, was recorded in 1949 while the lowest since the year 2000 was 4.6 degrees on March 9, 2005.

The low temperature is expected to persist into tomorrow night and it will feel colder because of a north-east wind which is expected to get stronger.

Much of Italy and Eastern Europe are currently experiencing a cold snap.

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