The National Safety Council has advised all road users to take extracare in the coming days, following a warning from Met Éireann thatfrost, ice and snow are on the way.
Snow, hail and sleet are forecast for Monday and Tuesday.
"The conditions forecast could result in reduced visibility and slippery road surfaces, making driving particularly hazardous," a National Safety Council spokesman said yesterday.
It will be very cold and frosty today, with wintry showers expected on higher ground in the north and west of the country.
Tomorrow will be windy and cold with scattered wintry showers. Temperatures will not rise above 5 or 6 degrees and a severe frost is expected tomorrow night.
Snow, hail and sleet are likely on Monday and Tuesday in Connacht, Ulster and east Leinster, according to Met Éireann meteorologist, Ms Sarah O'Reilly.
"It's early days yet but it looks like there might be enough snow to cause some disruption," she said.
Temperatures will not rise above 5 degrees but it will feel much colder because of a strong north to north-east wind.
"We expect that it will stay cold until Wednesday with temperatures below freezing at night.
"After that, it's hard to say," she said.
The National Safety Council advised motorists to check the local and national weather forecasts before making a journey.
"The golden rule is drive with care, expect the unexpected and allow extra time to make your journey," the NSC spokesman said.
He said that, if weather conditions deteriorated significantly, drivers should avoid making a journey by road unless absolutely necessary.
Similarly, pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists were advised to remain indoors and avoid travelling in extreme weather conditions.
The last significant fall of snow came at the end of December, when the north and north-west of the country bore the brunt of the wintry weather.
"So far it has been milder than average this winter and while some severe weather is expected in the next few days, it's nothing out of the ordinary for this time of year," Ms O'Reilly said.
Soil and air temperatures have been above normal in many areas this winter.
However, slugs and other pests are thriving in the warm weather, which is bad news for gardeners. Growth is ahead of normal in areas such as the midlands and north.
The mild January follows a year that was one of the driest on record, particularly in the west and midlands.
