Irish weather forecast: Met Eireann issue status yellow snow and ice warning for all of Ireland as temperatures to fall to -3C

Met Eireann have issued a status yellow snow and ice warning for all of Ireland as temperatures are set to fall to minus three degrees.

It is valid from 11am this morning until 11am on Sunday.

There will be wintry showers of hail, sleet and snow with localized accumulations, especially on high ground, and icy stretches on roads and footpaths.

There is a status yellow wind warning in Donegal because of gusts of up to 110kmph.

Met Eireann posted on Twitter: "Cold and blustery with sunny spells and scattered wintry showers.

"Cloudier conditions with some patchy rain and sleet soon into the Southwest and will move Northwards over the country this afternoon and evening turning to snow in parts, especially on high ground."

Up to 10cm of snow could fall over the weekend in some places, the Met Office says (PA)

Members of the public brave the snow conditions on Parkgate Street , Dublin (Collins Photo Agency)

Melting snow pictured at powerscourt gardens, Enniskerry,Co Wicklow (Collins Photo Agency)

It will be cold and wintry over the weekend, becoming more settled early next week with very cold nights, then milder from midweek onwards. 

A status orange - gale warning is in place as west to southwest winds will reach gale force 8 at times today on all Irish Coastal Waters and on the Irish Sea.

Today will be cold and blustery today with sunny spells and scattered showers, frequent this morning in the Northwest.

Some of the showers will have a wintry mix of hail, sleet and snow, especially on high ground with some thunder.

During the afternoon and evening, scattered outbreaks of rain, sleet and snow will move northwards over the country.

The icy blast is bringing the UK a plunge in temperatures (Getty Images)

Hill walkers are warned to be careful of icy paths

Some parts of Britain could look very wintry this weekend (PA)

Met Eireann forecast it will be cold tonight with a mix of clear spells and showers of rain, hail, sleet and snow an ongoing risk of thunder.

Sunday will be cold with sunny spells.

Wintry showers in the Northwest will die out through the morning.

Further showers will develop in the South and West during the day becoming more widespread in the evening with some hail, sleet and snow especially for high ground, and the ongoing risk of thunder.

Monday will have a frosty start with some icy patches.

Snow conditions DunLaoghaire,Dublin (Collins Photo Agency)

Many places will have a dry and bright day with sunny spells, with showers largely confined to western and northern coasts.

Tuesday is shaping up to be another mainly dry and bright day with crisp winter sunshine, after a cold and frosty start with icy patches.

Current indications suggest an increasingly wet and windy Wednesday.