Snow, sleet and rain for the next few days

Weather update from Met Éireann

More snow is forecast over the next couple of days while a status yellow snow/ice warning has been issued for Leitrim, Sligo and Donegal.

Met Éireann says blustery showers of hail, sleet and snow with icy stretches on untreated surfaces will lead to hazardous driving conditions on Wednesday night and Thursday morning.

The warning will take effect at 10pm tonight (Wednesday) and remain in place until 10am on Thursday.

Frequent heavy snow showers are expected, along with very gusty winds and a small chance of frequent lightning affecting some places.

A yellow wind and snow warning has also been issued north of the border for Fermanagh, Antrim, Tyrone and Derry.

It will come into place at lunchtime today and run until 3pm on Thursday.

Sunny spells and scattered blustery showers will occur early Wednesday. By late morning a band of rain will move into the northwest, gradually extending to all other areas, turning heavy in places.

By evening, scattered wintry showers will begin to push into the northwest. Rather windy, in fresh to strong and gusty southwesterly winds. Highest temperatures will range 6 to 11 degrees, before turning colder with the passage of the rain-band.

Feeling raw tonight with brisk westerly winds feeding in a scattering of snow, sleet and rain showers. Chance of isolated thunderstorms too with local hail. Lowest temperatures of -2 to +1 degrees; feeling even colder owing to an added wind chill factor. Some frost and ice will set in also, especially in sheltered areas.

Cold and rather windy on Thursday with sunny spells and further scattered wintry showers. Snow showers and icy stretches during the morning will lead to treacherous conditions in parts. Some thundery showers and hail too, especially in the west and north. Highest temperatures of just 3 to 7 degrees, coldest in the north, again with an added wind chill factor with fresh to strong and gusty westerly winds persisting throughout the day.

Conditions on Thursday night will feel raw in rather brisk northwest winds with some further scattered wintry showers, mainly confined to western and northern coasts overnight. Long clear spells will develop elsewhere. Lowest temperatures of 0 to 4 degrees with frost and possible ice developing later, that's as the winds ease.

Mostly dry on Friday with good sunny spells and just light southwest breeze. During the afternoon however, cloud will build across much of the western half of the country. The odd spot of drizzle is possible in Atlantic fringes later. Highest temperatures will range 8 to 10 degrees.

Little change overnight on Friday, though southerly winds will freshen towards morning. Lowest temperatures of 2 to 7 degrees, coolest across eastern counties.

Saturday is promised mostly cloudy and breezy with patchy drizzle across southern and western counties. Highest temperatures of 8 to 10 degrees in fresh and gusty southerly winds.

Rain is expected to move in across the country during Saturday night, turning heavy at times, however a clearance will develop across Atlantic counties later. Lowest temperatures of 2 to 7 degrees, coolest across western counties.

The last of the overnight rain is likely to clear early on Sunday, leaving a mostly dry day with sunny spells and just light south to southwest breezes. Highest temperatures of 7 to 10 degrees.