Cold start to the day at weather warning in place

Weather update from Met Éireann

It's a cold start to the day as a status yellow snow and ice warning is in place for counties Cavan, Monaghan, Leitrim, Sligo and Donegal.

Met Éireann is warning of wintry showers of hail, sleet and snow, with some modest accumulations in places, especially on high ground.

Potential impacts include hazardous travelling conditions and icy stretches.

The warning took effect at midnight on Wednesday and will remain in place until noon today (Thursday).

Chilly today with sunshine and showers, some turning wintry with hail, sleet and possibly snow, but these will be mainly over higher ground in the north and northwest. Highest temperatures of just 3 to 7 degrees, but it will feel even cooler with an added wind chill from moderate to fresh northerly winds, stronger along exposed coasts.

Tonight, will stay cold with plenty of clear spells and further showers in the north and northwest. Again, some of the showers will turn wintry, but mostly in the north and west. Lowest overnight temperatures of -2 to +2 degrees, coldest in the east and south. Widespread frost and some icy patches are expected to develop overnight with light to moderate north to northwest winds.

Tomorrow, Thursday, will be another cold and frosty day with sunny spells. Scattered showers will be mostly confined to the north and west. Some showers will be wintry at times, but in general showers will become increasingly isolated throughout the day. Highest temperatures of 3 to 7 degrees in light to moderate northwesterly winds, fresh at time on the coasts.

Dry and clear to start on Thursday night and turning very cold after dark. Cloud will gradually build in from the west overnight with very light outbreaks of rain and drizzle possibly developing overnight, mainly on Atlantic coasts. Mostly light to moderate northerly or variable breezes with lowest temperatures of -3 to +2 degrees with frost and icy patches likely.

Cloudy conditions will continue to spread eastwards into Friday morning with rain and drizzle becoming more persistent towards the afternoon as a band of rain moves in from the west. Highest temperatures of 4 to 9 degrees in light to moderate southerly winds, strong at times om Atlantic coasts.

Friday night: Rain and drizzle will clear eastwards overnight with isolated showers following in behind. Lowest temperatures of 2 to 7 degrees in moderate to fresh south to southwest winds, strong at times on south and east coasts.

A brighter start on Saturday for the parts of Ulster and Connacht, while remaining cloudier elsewhere. Cloudy conditions will become more widespread though by midday with rain spreading from the southwest. this rain will persist for the remainder of the day and into Saturday night, with showery outbreaks moving in towards the morning. Light to moderate south to southeast winds, strengthening on west and southwest coasts by the afternoon. Highest temperatures of 7 to 12 degrees.

Sunday is looking to remain generally unsettled with widespread cloudy conditions and showery outbreaks of rain. There will be opportunities for brighter breaks throughout the day in the southwest. Clearer spells will develop throughout the afternoon with showers becoming more scattered too. Highest temperatures if 6 to 10 degrees in moderate to fresh north to northwest winds, reaching strong to near gale force strength and gusty along Atlantic coasts.