Ireland is set to be hit with snow within the coming days, forecasters have warned after temperatures are set to plummet as low as -4C later this week.
Met Eireann has predicted that snow is likely to fall on hills and mountains in the north and west of the country tomorrow night which could occasionally fall on lower ground.
And the weather forecaster has warned of 'widespread frost' and 'icy patches' to come on Thursday as the weather takes a bitterly cold turn.
Tuesday will be mostly cloudy with some rain and drizzle, especially over south Connacht, north Munster and north Leinster with highest temperatures ranging from 7 to 12 degrees. It will drop to 1 to 3 degrees overnight with 'frost' and 'icy patches' possible.
Light to moderate southwest to west winds will pick up overnight and increase to strong and gusty winds along northern and western coasts.
Wednesday will be sunny with highest temperatures of 5 to 8 degrees. Scattered showers along the coasts of Connacht and Ulster will turn to sleet and possibly snow on higher ground in Ulster with more snow falling overnight.
Met Eireann said: "Wednesday night will be cold and frosty under clear skies, it'll be mainly dry apart from scattered showers along north and west coasts, again falling as sleet and snow on hills and mountains and occasionally down to lower levels. Lowest temperatures of minus 1 to plus 3 degrees in fresh southwest winds."
Thursday night will see temperatures drop to below freezing (-2 to -4C) bringing 'widespread frost' and 'icy patches' as more snow is expected to fall on high ground.
The forecaster said: "Further scattered showers for west and north coasts on Thursday with mainly dry and sunny weather elsewhere, the showers will become more widespread through the afternoon, continuing to fall as sleet and snow over higher ground. Highest temperatures of 5 to 7 degrees and feeling even colder in mostly moderate west to northwest winds.
"Clear skies on Thursday night as showers become isolated and mostly confined to northern coasts. Lowest temperatures of minus 2 to minus 4 degrees with widespread frost and some icy patches developing in light northwesterly or variable breezes."
On Friday, there will be highest temperatures of 5 to 7 degrees during the day and rain will move eastwards overnight with strong southerly winds and could fall as sleet and snow.
