Gardai in one county have issued a warning after snow arrived on Tuesday in the midst of a rare "weather bomb" event.
Officers in Co Donegal captured a dramatic snap of conditions in the scenic Barnesmore Gap region in the middle of the county.
And motorists have been warned to take particular care while driving in the extreme weather conditions.
Gardai wrote on Twitter: "Many areas in Donegal had heavy snowfall overnight. This picture was taken at Barnesmore Gap this morning.
"Always ensure that your car is in a roadworthy condition before setting off and conduct all the relevant checks on it. When driving in frost or snow please slow down.
"Leave a bit of extra time for your journey and use major roads when possible as they are more likely to have been gritted. Use dipped headlights, leave extra space between your car and the car in front, use the highest gear possible at a reduced speed.
"When travelling downhill use a low gear. If you are going to slow down, tap the brake lightly to alert the driver behind. In snowy conditions, carefully scan the road ahead and ensure that you are always in a position to stop safely, that you have adequate visibility and that you are visible to others. In poor weather conditions, please avoid unnecessary travel.
It comes as Storm Barra is set to rip through the country today as the weather event has been declared a 'threat to life'.
People are advised not to leave their homes today unless absolutely necessary as high waves, high tides, coastal flooding and disruption to power and travel expected.
Met Eireann has issued a Status Red Wind warning for Cork and Kerry until 9pm tonight, Clare until 1am Wednesday.
Orange warnings are in place for Clare, Cork, Kerry, Limerick and Waterford until 6am Wednesday and Galway, Mayo, Wexford, Dublin, Louth, Wicklow and East Meath until 1pm today.
All schools and colleges in counties under red and orange warnings will be closed today as many other businesses and vaccination centres have decided to close until the storm passes.
A Met Eireann forecaster said: "Storm Barra will bring strong to gale force winds and heavy rain today, southeast to south this morning, and northwesterly this evening. Damaging gusts, coastal flooding is likely. Snow and sleet with highs of 5 to 7 degrees. Strong winds will continue through until Wednesday."
Here is a more detailed look at Met Eireann's forecast.
Tuesday, December 7th
Storm Barra will bring severe and damaging wind gusts today, with winds the strongest on exposed coastal areas of Munster and Connacht.
Gale to storm force southeast winds will veer west and later northwest in direction.
Heavy rain will move northeastwards across the country during the morning, followed by widespread squally showers.
Falls of sleet and snow are likely in places, especially across the north and west during the morning then in the south later.
Coastal flooding is expected, along with travel disruption. As the eye of the storm passes over the centre of the country, winds will fall light and variable for a time.
Afternoon temperatures of 5 to 7 degrees.
The strong winds continue through Tuesday night. As a result, there will be frequent squally showers, some sleet and snow with hail and isolated thunderstorms.
Further damaging and possibly disruptive wind gusts are expected, especially in Atlantic coastal counties with gale to storm force west to northwest winds.
A cold night with lowest temperatures of 1 to 4 degrees.
Wednesday, December 8th
A cold and windy day tomorrow, Wednesday, with bright spells in the south, and widespread showers, some of sleet and snow and prolonged over the northern half of the country.
Highest temperatures of 4 to 7 degrees in strong to gale force northwest winds.
Winds will back westerly and steadily ease on Wednesday night with clear spells and scattered showers.
Lowest temperatures generally ranging 1 to 3 degrees.
Thursday, December 9th
A dry start on Thursday for most of the country, the rain will develop in the southwest and spread eastwards later, possibly falling as sleet and snow in some areas initially, then quickly clearing to rain.
Highest temperatures of 6 to 10 degrees in light southerly winds, becoming west to northwest later.
The rain will clear to scattered showers on Thursday night. Lowest temperatures of 1 or 2 degrees in moderate to fresh northwest winds.
Friday, December 10th
Friday will be a cold day with sunny spells and rain or hail showers, mainly affecting western and northern coastal areas.
An afternoon of temperatures of 5 to 8 degrees in a moderate westerly wind. Cold on Friday night with temperatures of 1 to 3 degrees.
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