Updated: 11.20am
Met Eireann extended its weather warnings as heavy snow is set to strike tomorrow (Thursday).
Snow is likely to hazardous driving conditions across the country tomorrow and Friday.
Met Eireann is forecasting a bitterly cold few days ahead with persistent falls of sleet and snow.
A Snow/Ice warning is in place from 3am (tonight/Thursday morning) until 11pm on Thursday night.
A Low Temperature/Ice warning for Ireland takes effect from 9pm Thursday until 10am Friday.
People are being urged to prepare for hazardous driving conditions, poor visibility and travel disruption.
Today (Wednesday) will stay very cold, with highest temperatures of just 3 or 4 degrees. Tonight will be freezing again but mainly dry.
The forecast for Thursday warns that rain, sleet and snow will spread northwards to all areas and will continue through the afternoon and evening, with snowfall accumulations developing and with poor visibility and very hazardous driving conditions. Temperatures of 0 to 3 degrees with moderate to fresh, easterly winds.
“Thursday night will be cold with falls of sleet and snow in many areas. The sleet and snow will continue overnight over the eastern half of the country. It will become drier further west with frost and ice developing. Lowest temperatures of -4 to 0 degrees coldest in the northwest, with northerly winds easing light to moderate,” Met Eireann says.
The overview for the rest of the week is: “Very cold with falls of rain, sleet and snow at times. Becoming milder over the weekend.”