Met Éireann has said that it will be cold this weekend with overnight temperatures dropping to below freezing in some parts of the country.
The national forecaster said that rain, sleet and snow in north Leinster and Ulster will extend southwards to the rest of the country today (Friday, March 1).
The wintry falls will be mainly confined to higher ground, some showers of hail and thunderstorms are also possible.
Drier conditions will develop from the northwest during the afternoon. It will be blustery in fresh to strong north to northeasterly winds. Feeling cold in highest temperatures of just 3° to 7°C.
Rain in the east will become patchy and clear overnight, elsewhere it will be mainly dry, before scattered showers develop in the north and west. Some of those showers will be heavy and of hail.
The north to northwest winds will be moderate to fresh, gusty on western and northern coasts. Overnight temperatures dropped back to between -1° to 3°.
Weather warnings
A Status Yellow snow-ice warning which is currently in place for Donegal is due to end at 8:00a.m today.
A similar warning for Cavan; Monaghan; Dublin; Kildare; Longford; Westmeath; Leitrim; Roscommon and Sligo is due to expire at 10:00a.m today.
A snow-ice warning for Wicklow will remain in place until 3:00p.m today.
There will be icy stretches on untreated roads and poor visibility leading to hazardous travelling conditions.
The snow has led to some local school closures in affected counties, while there are reports that some roads in Cavan and Longford are impassable.
A Status Yellow rainfall warning for Dublin; Louth; Meath and Wicklow came into force at 3:00a.m and is due to remain in place for 24 hours.
Weekend
Saturday (March 2) will see a mixture of sunny spells and showers, some of which will fall as hail.
The northerly winds will be moderate to fresh and gusty for a time in west Munster and Connacht in the afternoon. Highest temperatures of 5° to 8°.
The showers will become isolated on Saturday night to leave long clear spells. Overnight temperatures will range from -2° to 3°, frost and icy patches may form in places, north-westerly winds will be light to moderate.
Sunday (March 3) will be a bright day with scattered showers and sunny spells. The westerly winds will veer southwesterly later and fall light. Highest temperatures of 7° to 9°.
It will be cold with clear spells on Sunday night with frost and icy patches forming as temperatures drop to -2° to 2°. Cloud will build later in the southwest bringing rain to Munster by morning.
Rain will be heaviest in southern counties on Monday (March 4), the easterly winds will be gusty at times. Highest temperatures of 6° to 8°.
There will be more rain on Monday night, some heavy and wintry falls are possible. Lowest temperatures of 2° to 5°.
The rain is expected to clear during Tuesday (March 5) with sunny spells developing. Highest daytime temperatures of 7° to 10°.
The current indications shows that conditions will continue mixed but milder through midweek.
Met Éireann
Met Éireann has said that rainfall amounts over the next seven days are expected to be around average or slightly above, generally between 10 and 30mm. Sunshine amounts are likely to be around average or slightly below.
Mean air temperatures of 5° to 8° are forecast. Soil temperatures are expected to fall slightly but still remain above average.
Drying conditions will be moderate or poor with rain, and showers most days, while opportunities for spraying will be limited.
Most areas will see further deterioration of soil conditions this week due to further spells of rain.