It is forecast to be bitterly cold tonight with a new Status Orange weather warning in place for 19 counties - as temperatures could drop to as low as -11C.
Met Eireann issued the ‘low temperature and ice warning’ for Wednesday night and it will cover most inland counties in Ireland as ‘severe’ frost and ice affects much of the country.
This status orange alert will remain in place from 6pm Wednesday until 12pm on Thursday for; Carlow, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois, Longford, Louth, Meath, Offaly, Westmeath, Cavan, Monaghan, Clare, Cork, Kerry, Limerick, Tipperary, Galway, Leitrim, and Roscommon.
Read More: Gardai seize weapon as Dublin apartment is sealed off after body find in field
The Irish forecaster warned: “Extremely cold weather on Wednesday night with widespread temperatures below -5 degrees leading to severe frost and ice.”
However, despite the warning the forecaster said temperatures will actually reach as low as -7C widely tonight, and will be several degrees lower in certain local areas.
Weather expert Alan O’Reilly of Carlow Weather warned that people living in Birr should expect temperatures to plummet as far as -11C.
“Latest update of HARMONIE model from Met Éireann shows -11c forecast for Thursday morning near Birr,” he wrote on Twitter.
Meanwhile, a Status Yellow low temperature and ice warning remains in place for the entire country until midday on Friday.
Met Eireann said there will continue to be widespread frost and icy conditions for the rest of the week with any showers potentially falling as sleet or snow.
It'll be a dry and sunny day on Wednesday, with isolated wintry showers in the northwest and north. Highest daytime temperatures of 0C to 4C but it is expected to turn bitterly cold again in the evening time as the Status Orange warning kicks in.
Thursday will see a freezing cold start to the day, with temperatures remaining below freezing during the morning and some parts of the midlands staying below zero through the day. It is forecast to be a dry and sunny day for most but there will be a few showers of rain and sleet in the north and northwest.
Daytime temperatures of 0 to 2 degrees, though may be higher on coasts, are expected in a light northwesterly breeze.
Thursday night will then see snow and sleet in the north of Ireland but other places will remain dry. Patches of freezing fog may develop with temperatures dropping again to -7C and widespread frost and icy conditions will persist.
Friday could be foggy in some areas though it will be mostly dry and bright across much of the country with isolated showers of rain and sleet at the coasts moving into western areas through the day. It will still be very cold with afternoon temperatures no higher than 1 to 4 degrees in light to moderate southwest winds.
Friday night will be very cold with some lingering showers of rain and sleet in western areas. Elsewhere things will stay dry but there is the chance of an isolated shower in the south with lowest temperatures of -3C to 2C.
Saturday is due to be dry and bright, apart from isolated coastal showers in the south and west. Daytime temperatures of 2C to 8C.
The forecast beyond Saturday is still uncertain at this point but current indications suggest that winds from the south will bring milder weather and rain.
READ NEXT :
Woman killed as car crashes into group of pedestrians in Irish village horror
Ireland gets coldest day since 2010 as forecasters predict snow and stormy turn
Irishwoman wanted here in connection with double murder led to court in chains
Missy Keating soaks up sun in skimpy bikini as she settles into life Down Under
'I've been using my windscreen ice scraper wrong for years and can't believe it'
Get breaking news to your inbox by signing up to our newsletter
