With temperatures plummeting across the country Ireland is bracing for a freezing cold weekend ahead.
Weather experts have warned that an Arctic airmass is set to arrive on Irish shores this week bringing a wintry blast.
And Met Eireann has warned that parts of the country will be hit with some severe conditions.
According to the latest forecast heavy bouts of frost, rain and sleet will be widespread across the country however its the north and south which will be worst hit and most likely to see some snow this weekend.
A forecaster said:" A cool day with a mix of sunny spells and scattered showers, some wintry with the risk of isolated thunderstorms. The showers will become widespread through the afternoon, with the possibility of snow on higher ground later in the day. Highest temperatures of 5 to 10 degrees
"Very cold tonight with temperatures dropping to between -3 to +1 degrees, and with a widespread sharp to severe frost forming, with some ice patches. Scattered wintry showers clearing the south overnight with further wintry showers moving into the north with a risk of isolated thunderstorms here. Light variable breezes.
"A cold, bright start tomorrow, Saturday with good spells of sunshine. Dry in many places with wintry showers skirting northwestern and northern coasts in the morning.
"Cloud will increase through the afternoon with showers of rain, hail and sleet developing and becoming widespread later in the day with a risk of thunderstorms too.
"There'll be some snow showers also, especially over higher ground. The showers will become isolated in the evening. Highest temperatures of 5 to 9 degrees, coldest in the north, in light to moderate northerly breezes.
"Saturday night the showers will becoming mainly confined to coastal areas overnight. The bulk of the country will be dry with mostly clear skies. Another very cold night with a widespread sharp frost, and some ice, with lowest temperatures of -3 to 0 degrees in general. Winds will be mostly light northerly, moderate along the western coasts.
"Sunday will be Another cold and bright start with plenty of sunshine and just isolated coastal shower. Cloud looks set to increase from the northwest through the afternoon with rain affecting most of Ulster and Connacht through the day.
"Much of the south and east will hold dry with some sunshine. Highest temperatures of 5 to 9 degrees, in mostly light north to northwest breezes."
