Prepare for very cold conditions with severe frosts and wintry showers, as meteorological services have issued a number of weather warnings for the weekend.
A Status Yellow snow-ice warning is in place for Co. Donegal from 8:00p.m tonight (Friday, January 2) until 11:00a.m on Saturday morning.
The county can expect wintry showers with some snow accumulations.
There may also be hazardous travel conditions with poor visibility.
The UK Met Office has also issued a snow and ice warning for counties Antrim, Armagh, Down, Fermanagh, Tyrone and Derry.
This warning is in place from 3:00p.m on Friday until 12:00p.m on Saturday.
A Status Yellow low temperature and ice warning comes into effect for many counties from 6:00p.m on Saturday until 11:00a.m on Sunday.
The affected areas are: Munster, as well as counties Carlow; Dublin; Kildare; Kilkenny; Laois; Longford; Meath; Offaly; Westmeath; Wexford; and Wicklow.
Met Éireann said that temperatures could fall to between -2° and -4° in many areas, with sharp or severe frost and icy stretches.
During the same timeframe, a Status Yellow snow and ice warning is in place for counties Cavan, Donegal, Monaghan, and Louth, as well as Connacht.
Wintry showers with some snow accumulations can be expected, with sharp or severe frost and ice also.
Possible impacts also include hazardous travel conditions and poor visibility.
Snow and ice warnings
For counties Antrim, Armagh, Down, Tyrone and Derry, the UK Met Office has issued a snow and ice warning valid from 12:00p.m on Saturday until 12:00p.m on Monday.
From Sunday, there are a number of further weather warnings that have been issued.
From 6:00p.m on Sunday until 11:00a.m on Monday, a Status Yellow snow-ice warning is in place for counties Cavan, Donegal, Monaghan, and Louth, as well as Connacht.
During this time, a Status Yellow low temperature and ice warning is in place for counties Carlow, Dublin, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois, Longford, Meath, Offaly, Westmeath, Wexford, Wicklow and all of Munster.
Extreme caution is being urged when travelling over the coming days.
The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) has said that wintry overnight weather has already led to “treacherous driving conditions in some areas this morning, as not all roads have been treated”.
“Please exercise extreme caution when driving and leave additional time for your journey.
“Slow down, and leave extra distance between you and the car in front,” the PSNI added.
