Met Eireann has issued the first weather warning of 2023 as grim conditions are expected to kick off the New Year.
The national forecaster has issued a Status Yellow weather alert for ice and fog, as the first cold snap of the year arrives.
The caution will be in effect for the entire country as experts say hazardous driving conditions are expected from tonight into Monday morning.
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"Icy stretches along with patches of freezing fog may lead to hazardous road conditions in some areas tonight and on Monday morning," the warning states.
It is currently in place for 12 hours, from 11:00 pm Sunday, January 1, until 11:00 am on Monday January 2.
This evening, the mist and fog will form. It will be cold with frost developing along with some icy stretches however, it will be largely dry with isolated rain or hail showers in Atlantic coastal counties.
Patches of freezing fog may develop locally as lowest temperatures of -3 to +2 degrees are expected in a light and variable breeze.
The forecast for the week ahead states that “Monday morning will be cold and frosty with icy stretches and patches of freezing fog. It will stay cold in most areas for the day, with highest temperatures of 1 to 5 degrees, but will be less cold in the southwest.
“It will be mostly dry with low winter sunshine and just isolated showers in the west and northwest. Winds will be light and variable at first but will become southerly later, freshening in the west”.
Monday night will be “cloudy and windy with outbreaks of rain moving east, turning to sleet at times. Lowest temperatures ranging from 2 to 8 degrees, northeast to southwest, with a fresh to strong and gusty southerly wind”.
On Tuesday it will be “milder but wet and windy with spells of rain and showers moving across the country throughout the day. Highest temperatures of 11 to 13 degrees, in a fresh to strong and gusty south to southwest wind”.
Tuesday night will be “breezy with outbreaks of rain early in the night, but becoming drier and calmer by morning. Lowest temperatures of 5 to 10 degrees with a moderate to fresh westerly wind, easing later”.
Midweek, on Wednesday “pver the northern half of the country it will be mostly dry and bright but it will be cloudier further south with patchy light rain or drizzle. Highest temperatures of 7 to 11 degrees north to south, in a light to moderate westerly or variable wind”.
Wednesday night will see “more persistent rain is expected to move in over the southern half of the country, while showers develop in northern areas. Lowest temperatures of 3 to 8 degrees, coldest in the north, in a light southerly or variable wind”.
Thursday will be “a wet day as rain becomes widespread and occasionally heavy. Becoming breezy in the south too. Highest temperatures ranging 5 to 11 degrees from north to south”.
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