The weather is set to take a cold turn and a wintry blast will hit the country as showers turning to hail, sleet and snow - but snow will mainly fall over higher ground.
Met Eireann has predicted that sleet and snow showers are due to reach hills and mountains in the northwest of Ireland overnight.
Wednesday will be a “chilly” day with highest temperatures during the day reaching 4 to 8 degrees but will drop to -1 to +2 degrees at night with frost and icy patches forming.
Winds will be strong and gusty near northern and western coasts with moderate to fresh west to southwest winds in other areas, becoming blustery at times overnight.
Met Eireann said: “A fresh start this morning. Dry in many areas to start with sunny spells developing. Today there will be scattered showers, mainly in Connacht and Ulster.
“Showers will turn heavier through the day with the chance of isolated thunderstorms and hail later. Sleet is also possible on hills in Ulster.
“Cold tonight with scattered showers, some heavy with hail, mixed with clear spells. Isolated thunderstorms are possible too, mostly likely in the west or northwest. There will be some sleet and snow showers in the northwest also, mainly over higher ground.”
On Thursday, heavy showers could turn to thunderstorms or hail and sleet and snow are likely over hills in Connacht and Ulster.
It will be a cold day and temperatures are set to drop even further overnight with lowest temperatures of -3C to +1, bringing a “sharp frost” and “icy stretches”.
Met Eireann said: “A cold start tomorrow morning with some frost. Tomorrow will bring scattered showers and sunny spells, again some showers will be heavy or thundery with a risk of hail. Showers will be most frequent in Connacht and Ulster where some will continue to fall as sleet or possibly snow, mainly on hills.
Are you preparing for wintry weather? Tell us in the comments section.
“Feeling cold in highest temperatures of 4 to 7 degrees and fresh westerly winds. Winds will be strong and gusty in the northwest, and become northwesterly in direction later.”
Thursday night will be “a cold, clear night” as showers will quickly die out and it will become mainly dry.
Friday will be a cold, dry morning again, though outbreaks of rain will spread from the west through the afternoon and evening. It is set to be a windy day with strong southerly winds set to reach almost gale force on Atlantic coastlines. Highest temperatures on Friday will range between 5 to 8 degrees.
It will be a “wet and windy” night on Friday but temperatures will stay much the same as the daytime with lowest temperatures of 4 to 8 degrees.
The weekend is set to bring milder temperatures with rain on Saturday and more showers on Sunday but with some sunny spells,
The forecaster said: “Saturday will be breezy and mostly cloudy with frequent showers or longer spells of rain. Highest temperatures of 8 to 11 degrees in moderate to fresh southwest winds. Outbreaks of rain will continue overnight, possibly turning heavy in places. Lowest temperatures of 3 to 6 degrees.
“There will be further showers on Sunday, with some bright or sunny spells. Highest temperatures of 7 to 10 degrees with moderate to fresh westerly winds.”
