Met Eireann has not ruled out weather warnings over the coming week as Ireland is pummelled by strong winds and heavy rain.
Meanwhile, overnight temperatures are set to plummet near freezing, with frost and fog likely at times.
The national forecaster has said the “unsettled weather” is expected to last right through to next week, with “rain or showers on most days”.
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Giving its forecast for this weekend, the meteorological service said today will start cold and dry before rain extends across the country from the west, turning heavy at times, with strong and gusty southerly winds and temperatures of 7C to 11C.
Overnight the rain will clear east, with scattered showers in the west and lowest temperatures of 3C to 6C.
Looking ahead to tomorrow, Met Eireann said it will start bright but blustery with scattered showers - some heavy with hail - with temperatures of 6C to 10C in fresh wind.
Overnight, grass frost is possible in northern areas as temperatures dip between 2C and 5C, but it will be milder in the south west where heavy rain will come in from the atlantic alongside fresh winds.
One Irish weather expert has warned of “biting cold windchill” over the weekend.
Alan O’Reilly posted temperature maps on his popular Carlow Weather Twitter account showing windchill as cold as -11C in very high mountain areas.
He wrote: “Frosty tonight (Friday) with temperatures dropping to as low as -3C. Feeling cool over the weekend too with a biting cold windchill. Also we could see a dusting of snow on the very high mountains like Lugnaquilla with windchill down to -10C at peak. Now only very high mountains!!”
Giving its forecast for next week, Met Eireann said: “Unsettled weather is expected with rain or showers on most days. Temperatures close to the seasonal norm.”
It refused to rule out weather warnings for wind and rain, saying: “Low pressure to the west will dominate our weather through Week 1 with a predominately southwesterly airflow. Rainfall will be above average over much of the country, especially in the west and southwest. Temperatures will be slightly above normal, especially in the south and southeast.
“Potential hazards include strong wind and heavy rain at times. Despite the warmer than average temperatures, frosts are still possible at night.”
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