Ireland is set to be hit by wintry showers, hail and thunder in the days ahead as the cold snap continues.
Temperatures will dip to -3C overnight in some areas, while frost and ice will also develop.
The freezing conditions will be followed by a more settled period "before high pressure gives way to a more Atlantic regime" next week.
Met Eireann says for Friday until next Thursday: "A transitory signal for Week 1 with high pressure out to the east but low pressure building from the west.
"Likely the start of the period will be more settled before high pressure give way to a more Atlantic regime. Overall, temperatures will be around average for the time of year but slightly milder along eastern and southern coastal counties.
"The more unsettled conditions will bring above average precipitation over much of the country, especially in the south and southwest. Parts of the north might see below average precipitation amounts.
"There is the potential for hazards due to rainfall and wind as the more unsettled conditions take hold."
Before then, Wednesday will mostly start off with a rather dull and damp morning with scattered outbreaks of rain and drizzle.
More persistent rain will extend from the southwest during the afternoon and evening, with highest temperatures of 8 to 10C generally, cooler though in Connacht and west Ulster with highs of just 6 to 8C.
Rain will extend from the southwest across the country tonight, before long clear spells extend from the west as the rain clears all but the northeast by morning, showers will develop in the southwest towards morning.
Lowest temperatures of 0 to 4C in Connacht and Munster where there is a risk of some icy conditions developing, 4 to 7C elsewhere.
A forecaster said for Thursday: "Rain will gradually clear from the northeast through the morning with some sunny spells and scattered showers extending from the west, the showers will be most frequent over the southwest, turning heavy or thundery at times with a chance of some hail during the afternoon. Highest temperatures of 6 to 9C.
"Scattered heavy showers will gradually ease overnight [on Thursday], some of the showers may turn wintry, especially over higher ground.
"Long dry clear periods will develop with lowest temperatures dropping to between -2 to 2C. A widespread frost will set in also along with some mist and hill fog as northwesterly breezes fall light.
"A bright day [on Friday] with sunny spells, but there will be some well scattered light showers about. Highest temperatures of 7 or 8C.
Showers will become confined to the coast leaving a dry night [on Friday] with long clear spells. A widespread frost will develop again with lowest temperatures of -3 to 2C.
As for the weekend, the forecaster added: "Mostly dry and bright day [on Sunday] with long sunny periods, but a few light isolated showers are possible. Highest temperatures of 7 to 10C.
"Mostly dry and clear [on Saturday night] with a widespread frost developing as lowest temperatures drop to between -3 to 2C in light easterly breezes. Cloud will increase in the southeast later in the night with some patchy drizzle possible along the coasts by morning.
"Good sunny spells in most areas on Sunday morning but cloud will slowly extend from the southeast, with patchy light rain at times in the afternoon, although north Leinster and Ulster should stay dry for the most part. Highest temperatures of 7 to 9C.
"A mix of cloud and sunny spells to start the week [on Monday] and while it should stay mostly dry a few stray showers are possible. Highest temperatures of 6 to 9C."
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