Ireland is set to be hit by a cold snap in the coming days with a risk of rare 'thundersnow' for parts of the country.
Today will start off with blustery showers and some sunny spells.
By evening, scattered wintry showers will begin to move into the northwest.
Early afternoon temperatures will range between 6 to 11 degrees, before turning colder with the passage of the rain band.
Tonight will see cold air plunge around Ireland with Met Eireann forecasting sleet, snow, thunderstorms, hail and subzero temperatures.
A forecaster for Met Eireann said: "It will turn much colder early on Wednesday night as rain clears to the east.
"Showers will follow behind, falling as sleet and snow in places leading to poor driving conditions. Chance of isolated thunderstorms as well as hail, with lowest temperatures of -2 to +1 degrees allowing for some frost and icy stretches to develop in mostly moderate southwest winds.
This means that some areas could be in for a rare outbreak of ‘thundersnow’ which happens when thunderstorms - which are more common in summer months - form in wintry conditions.
When the weather is cold, the rain associated with a thunderstorm can fall as snow and therefore is called ‘thundersnow’.
‘Thundersnow’ is not meteorologically different from thunder in the summer, but rather than hail or rain, there is snow which can affect the acoustics of the thunder.
The cold weather is due to continue into Thursday, with more ‘thundersnow’ possible.
A national forecaster said: “A cold and windy day with sunny spells and scattered blustery showers, some falling as hail, sleet and snow on higher ground. Some of these showers may also be heavy and thundery especially in the west and north.
“Highest temperatures of 3C to 7C, coldest in the north, with an added wind chill factor in strong and gusty westerly winds.
“On Thursday night, wintry showers will mostly become confined to the northwest and north overnight with good dry clear spells developing elsewhere. Lows will fall to 0C to 4C, with a touch of frost possible as winds ease.”
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