Two weather warnings are in place today as Ireland braces for "stormy conditions", gusts of up 120km/h and a risk of coastal flooding.
High winds will lash the west and northwest while it will be bitterly cold in the east this morning.
And drivers have been urged to take extra care over the next few days with further strong winds and frost and icy conditions expected.
The Road Safety Authority urged caution as Met Eireann issued Orange and Yellow warnings for strong winds on Wednesday.
A Status Orange wind alert for Donegal and Mayo is in place from 7am to noon today.
Met Eireann said: "Southwest winds veering west to northwest will reach mean wind speeds of 60 to 75km/h with gusts of 100 to 120km/h, strongest in coastal areas."
The national forecaster cautioned: "Due to a combination of waves, spring tides and surge, the possibility of coastal flooding is increased on Thursday."
Meanwhile, an earlier alert for snow/ice warning for Donegal expired at 8am this morning but it's set to remain cold over the next few days.
A further yellow wind weather warning is in place for Cavan, Monaghan, Donegal, Dublin, Louth, Wicklow, Meath, Galway, Leitrim, Mayo, Sligo and Clare from 4am to 6pm on Thursday.
The Met Eireann website states: "Southwest winds veering west to northwest will reach mean wind speeds of 50 to 65km/h and gusts of 80 to 110km/h.
"Due to a combination of waves, spring tides and surge, the possibility of coastal flooding is increased along western and northwestern coasts on Thursday."
Looking ahead to today, a forecaster said: "Any remaining frost, ice and lying snow soon clearing to sunny spells. Showers, will become widespread again today, merging to longer spells of rain or hail at times, with a risk of isolated thunderstorms.
"Some sleet or snow showers at first too. Very windy with gales near the west coast this morning and becoming windy everywhere for a time today, as gusty southwest winds veer westerly, easing later this afternoon. Highs of 6C to 9C."
Tonight will be very chilly with lowest temperatures of -1C to +3C, coldest in Ulster with frost and a risk of icy patches there.
Meanwhile, Friday will start off dry with some bright or sunny intervals.
Rain will move into the southwest during the morning though, spreading over Munster, South Connacht and South Leinster through the day but staying drier further North with just a few showers.
Highest temperatures of 6C to 10C in mainly moderate south to southeast winds.
