Ireland is braced for more extreme weather after being hit by three storms within five days last week.
Met Eireann has issued a spate of weather warnings for the coming days, including a nationwide snow alert.
Temperatures are set to plummet below zero overnight, while chilly gales on Thursday will make it feel even colder than the 3C to 7C currently forecast.
Met Eireann says a scattering of snow, sleet and hail alongside icy stretches will lead to “treacherous” conditions in parts on Thursday. The wintry weather will be joined by thunderstorms in some areas, meaning a rare outbreak of ‘thundersnow’ is possible.
It happens when thunderstorms - which are more common in summer months - form in wintry conditions. When the weather is cold, the rain associated with a thunderstorm can fall as snow and therefore is called ‘thundersnow’.
‘Thundersnow’ is not meteorologically different from thunder in the summer, but rather than hail or rain, there is snow which can affect the acoustics of the thunder.
The exact time that ‘thundersnow’ could hit is from 10pm Wednesday until noon Thursday.
This when a nationwide Status Yellow snow and ice alert is in place.
Met Eireann said: “Blustery squally showers of hail, sleet and snow with icy stretches on untreated surfaces will lead to hazardous driving conditions on Wednesday night and Thursday morning. Some thunder and lightning expected too.”
A separate Status Yellow wind warning for Donegal and Mayo expires at 3pm on Wednesday.
A second Status Yellow wind warning for Clare, Donegal, Galway, Leitrim, Mayo and Sligo has been issued from 8am until 6pm Thursday.
The notice reads: “Very strong and gusty west to northwest winds.”
It comes amid fears yet another storm could batter Ireland.
Storm Gladys could bring more torrential downpours and strong winds across the country, wreaking further havoc.
If it is named by Met Eireann , it would follow Storms Dudley, Eunice and Franklin which all blasted Ireland last week. It was the first time three storms have been recorded in such quick succession since the naming system began.
The triple storms caused severe disruption with trees down, power cuts and school closures.
