Met Éireann has issued a nationwide snow and ice warning for today as many parts of the country count the cost of Storm Gertrude, which was last night off the coast of Norway.
The status-yellow warning was issued yesterday as icy patches were expected to develop overnight and early today despite windy conditions.
Sleet and snow showers in the north and northwest through last night were to bring “several centimetres” of snow on high ground and “a covering” at some lower levels.
The warning is in place until noon today.
The forecaster also issued a status-yellow wind warning for counties Donegal, Galway, Leitrim, Mayo and Sligo.
It said coastal parts of the north and northwest of the country would be affected by westerly winds with mean speeds of 60-65km/h, with gusts to about 100km/h.
The warning is in place until 3pm today.
Met Éireann meteorologist Harm Luijkx last night said that temperatures were set to drop close to freezing and that there could also be some wintry showers.
He added he did not “anticipate any problems” from any snow that fell.
“Temperatures will be 3-6 degrees at best, which will feel colder with the brisk winds,” he said.
“Saturday will start with some frost and some further wintry showers. It will be milder in the south on Saturday night as rain pushes up from the southwest.
“That will continue on Sunday. It will become milder as the day progresses and temperatures will reach double figures by its end, but the north will stay cold for the day as it will take a while for the mild air to reach it.”
Mr Luijkx said the “next big weather story” would be the winds on Monday.
“It looks like it’s going to be another day of very strong winds,” he said.
“There will be weather warnings but we don’t know whether they will be yellow or orange at this stage.”
