MARCH saw some of the coldest weather on record in Cork, with Met Éireann reporting that weather stations in Co Cork recorded their lowest temperatures since 1975.

Met Éireann has released its weather report for March 2018, noting that 'ice days' were recorded for the first time ever in the month of March.

Storm Emma brought the country to a standstill, with heavy snowfalls evident throughout the country.

While rainfall levels were significantly lower than normal for the month of March, significant snow falls and low temperatures posed issues.

Among the standout figures in the report was the confirmation that Sherkin Island saw its coldest March since 1975, with temperatures not rising above zero on March 1 or 2.

The month's lowest air minimum was recorded at Cork Airport at -7 degrees, the lowest recorded since 1962, 18 days of air frost were recorded at Moore Park, Co Cork.

Meanwhile, the outlook is somewhat better for the coming days.

While the last few days saw some heavy rain, this looks to have passed with forecasters expecting Saturday, Sunday and Monday to be mostly dry in Cork.

Temperatures will gradually begin to move upwards, too, with Saturday potentially seeing highs of 10-12 degrees. Sunday will be a little cooler but still in the region of 8-10 degrees.

In the midlands and further up the country, temperatures will hit as high as 13 degrees, meaning that Ireland will be even hotter than Spanish capital Madrid this weekend.