Met Eireann have warned snow could fall within hours as temperatures drop as low as -1C tonight.
It comes after two Status Yellow weather warnings were in place overnight for southern and western countries, with heavy rain and winds of up to 110km/h battering Ireland.
However both alerts are set to end at 9am on Sunday, and will be replaced by a mixed day with sunshine and showers, before sleet and possibly snow arrives on Sunday evening.
A Met Eireann forecaster said: "A windy day today with widespread showers, some heavy and prolonged. The showers most frequent in the west and northwest with the best of the sunny spells in the south and east of the country. Highest temperatures of 8 to 11 degrees in strong and gusty southwest winds, moderating through the afternoon and evening.
"Breezy tonight with clear spells and showers, turning persistent across the northern half of the country, falling as snow or sleet at times on hills and mountains. Lowest temperatures minus 1 to plus 4 degrees. Fresh to strong westerly winds will ease light in the south."
However next week looks set to bring a very welcome spell of largely settled weather, as St Patrick's Day itself is likely to be mostly dry and sunny, with highs of 13C.
A forecaster added: "Cloud and rain in the north will clear during the morning with dry and sunny weather developing for Monday. Highest temperatures of 9 to 12 degrees with light to moderate westerly breezes, still fresh for a time in the north.
"Tuesday will start dry with cloud building through the morning and rain arriving in the west by afternoon. During the afternoon and evening, rain will extend gradually eastwards. Highest temperatures of 7 to 10 degrees in light to moderate southerly winds.
"Rain and drizzle on Tuesday night, most persistent in the east of the country. Lowest temperatures of zero to plus 4 degrees with winds falling light southerly.
"Wednesday will be rather cloudy with rain and drizzle clearing from the east with drier and clearer weather by evening. Highest temperatures of 7 to 9 degrees with light to moderate northwest breezes.
"Thursday, St. Patrick's Day, will be a mainly dry day with some sunshine and just isolated showers early in the day. Afternoon temperatures of 12 or 13 degrees with light to moderate southwest breezes falling light southeast later.
"Current indications suggest the settled spell that starts on Wednesday night will continue into the weekend with sunshine, light winds and temperatures of 13 or 14 degrees in the afternoon and clear skies at night allowing temperatures to fall below freezing bringing frost."
