Ireland is set to be battered by torrential weather over the next 48 hours as wintry showers and icy conditions are on the way.
The worst of this is expected overnight tonight, and so the Irish forecaster has a warning in place for three counties.
The alert is active for Donegal, Leitrim and Sligo from 5:00 pm this afternoon, and will remain so until 11:00 am on Thursday - subject to easing conditions.
In the lead up to this, it will be cold and blustery with scattered wintry showers.
Frost and ice are expected alongside scattered showers and even thunderstorms that will continue into the evening - most frequent across Connacht and Ulster the chance of isolated thunderstorms.
Tonight, there will be some clear spells as well as further scattered wintry showers.
Sleet and snow showers will mainly affect the northwest and isolated thunderstorms are possible here too.
Lowest temperatures will range from -1 to +2 degrees, in brisk westerly winds with frost and icy patches forming, especially for sheltered parts.
Thursday will bring even more ice and frost mainly across the northwest where showers of sleet and snow are expected.
Sunny spells and scattered showers will continue through the day, some heavy or thundery with possible hail.
These will be most frequent in Connacht and Ulster where some will continue to fall as sleet or possibly snow, mainly on hills.
Highest temperatures will range from 4 to 7 degrees with fresh and gusty northwest winds, “making for an added wind chill factor.”
The weekend looks set to remain unsettled but some areas will see an easing in the worst of conditions
Friday will begin cold with frost and ice slowly clearing.
It’ll be dry in many areas at first with a few bright spells early on, but it will become cloudier with drizzle developing on Atlantic coasts.
Outbreaks of rain will spread from the west through the afternoon and evening, as it turns windy too, with southerly winds increasing fresh to strong - these will reach near gale force on Atlantic coasts.
Saturday will be breezy and mostly cloudy with frequent showers or longer spells of rain predicted.
Showers of rain will continue overnight, and may turn heavy in places with lowest temperatures ranging from 3 to 6 degrees.
Current predictions say there will be further showers on Sunday, with some bright or sunny spells.
Highest temperatures to end the week will be between 7 and 10 degrees with moderate to fresh westerly winds.
