Met Eireann are predicting a 13C swing in temperatures this week as the cold snap finally comes to an end.
Tonight will be bitterly cold in many areas with values dropping as low as -2C, with plenty of frost and icy stretches.
But temperatures will begin to pick up from tomorrow, with highs of 11C predicted at times.
A Met Eireann forecaster said: "Showers will eventually die out this morning in parts of Munster and Leinster.
"A cold and frosty start elsewhere with ice and patches of fog slow to lift in some areas. Otherwise it will be a mainly dry day except for the odd shower along Atlantic coasts.
"There will be some bright or sunny spells too. Chilly with afternoon highs of just 3 to 6 degrees, with near calm conditions.
"Tonight will be mainly dry and cold with lowest temperatures of -2 to +1 degrees with frost and icy stretches forming quickly after dark. Some mist and fog patches will form too.
"Tomorrow, Wednesday will be a wet and windy day. The rain and freshening southeast winds will spread up over the country reaching most places by mid-afternoon.
"Western counties should turn drier later in the day with scattered showers but heavier pulses of rain look likely to feed into eastern parts during the evening.
"There will be a rise in temperatures to between 9 to 11 degrees."
And the relatively mild weather will continue for the remainder of the week, with Thursday and Friday looking particularly dry.
A forecaster added: "A lot of dry weather on Thursday with the best of the sunshine in west and north of the country.
"Cloudier in southern and eastern areas with some light patchy rain through the afternoon. Highest temperatures of 8 to 10 degrees, in light southeasterly breezes.
"Current indications are for a dry night on Thursday. Winds will be light with patches of mist and fog.
"Turning cold with temperatures dropping back to between 1 and 5 degrees, with some ground frost.
At the moment Friday looks set to be dry for a lot of the country with showers affecting coastal areas.
"Bright spells look set to be limited with a lot of low cloud around and some mist and fog lingering into the afternoon. Cold with afternoon highs of 6 or 7 degrees."
