A Status Yellow snow and ice warning has been extended for the entire country, according to Met Eireann.

Initially, the warning covered all of Leinster as well as counties Cavan, Monaghan, Leitrim, east Cork, Tipperary and Waterford.

That warning comes into effect at 6:00pm this evening (Monday, February 5) and will remain valid until 4:00am tomorrow morning (Tuesday).

Accumulations of up to 3cm of snow are expected this evening and tonight, leading to hazardous conditions on roads and footpaths, Met Eireann warned.

Earlier today, a further Status Yellow snow and ice warning was issued.

This warning is set to continue from 4:00am tomorrow morning right through until just before midnight.

Snow showers are likely to give accumulations of less than 3cm tomorrow; the showers are forecast to be most frequent in the west and north of the country.

There will be danger of slippery roads and footpaths due to accumulations of ice on untreated surfaces, Met Eireann added.

This follows on from a low temperature warning that was valid last night, with temperatures dropping to as low as -5º in places.

The Irish meteorological office advised farmers with early-lambing flocks to take special care of their animals as a result of the snow and ice forecast.

Both opportunities for spraying and drying will be limited in the coming days as a result of the cold, wintry weather.

Most soils are currently water logged, or saturated, according to Met Eireann. No great improvement is expected during the week ahead; but, most well-drained soils are trafficable.