Temperatures will drop to a bitter -2C tonight ahead of snow potentially arriving next week.
Weather chiefs have revealed that “wintry showers” are expected in places on Monday, while rain “may turn to sleet or snow” a little later in the week.
In the meantime, a Status Yellow rain warning is in place for Co Louth until 6pm, while heavy showers and cold conditions will prevail throughout most of the country.
A Met Eireann forecaster said: "Yellow rainfall warning for Louth till 18:00 today. Scattered outbreaks of rain continuing, with heavy persistent falls across parts of the north and east of Leinster.
"However, many inland areas will see a lot of dry weather with a few sunny intervals. Some showers moving in from the west, with the risk of hail and thunder.
"Cool and breezy; highest temperatures of 6 to 10 degrees, in moderate to fresh northwest winds.
"Some showers will continue for a time tonight, mainly along eastern and southwestern fringes. Overall dry and clear, but turning cold with lowest temperatures of -2 to +2 degrees.
"Frost and fog setting in too in near calm, with the risk of some icy stretches."
Speaking about the chance of snow hitting next week, they added: "On Monday, showers will be heaviest and most frequent in the north and west, possibly becoming wintry over high ground here.
“Fresh to strong and gusty west to northwest winds with maximum temperatures ranging 6C to 10C.
“Showers will continue in the north and west on Monday night, elsewhere it will become dry and clear. Minimum temperatures of 0C to 4C.
“On Tuesday the showers will be mostly in the north with good dry and sunny periods for the rest of the country.
“Wednesday will start mostly dry but rain will move in from the west later in the day. With low afternoon temperatures, the rain could turn to sleet or snow on higher ground.”
