Ice, sleet and sub-zero temperatures forecast as Status Yellow alert in place

The weather will remain very cold until tomorrow, with a risk of ice and sleet, as temperatures fell to -4C last night.

Temperatures will dip again to -3C tonight, with the midlands and west worst affected, according to Met Éireann.

It will be a frosty start for many this morning, with patches of freezing fog expected.

The forecaster said there could be slippery conditions underfoot, hazardous travelling conditions and animal welfare concerns.

Met Éireann meteorologist Linda Hughes said the freezing weather will last until tomorrow, when the conditions will turn milder, with sunny spells and temperatures rising to 11C in parts, with a return to “frost-free” nights.

“On Tuesday morning, there will be very cold conditions with widespread frost and ice, a low temperature and ice warning is in place for Connacht, Longford, Offaly and Westmeath, where the lowest temperatures have been forecast,” she explained.

"Then through the day on Tuesday, there's going to be generally a lot of dry weather with sunny spells.

“A little bit of cloud here, near the east coast, with some patches of light rain or drizzle there during Tuesday, otherwise mostly dry with some isolated showers.

"Some outbreaks of rain will develop in the southwest, so it's going to be another cold day for Tuesday with highest temperatures about 2 to 7C,” she said.

Temperatures will plunge again this evening into tomorrow morning in most places.

“Tuesday night is going to be another very cold night, so temperatures again are going to be falling to -2 or -3C in some places.

“Milder conditions are going to start moving into the southwest later on Tuesday night towards Wednesday morning,” she said.

“That's the end of the cold weather for now.

“So from Wednesday onwards, it's going to feel much milder than what we've been having recently.

“We'll see daytime temperatures getting up to between 7 and 11C from Wednesday onwards, so much milder and then we’ll have frost-free nights too.”

However, the weather will get very unsettled from tomorrow onwards with the milder conditions, with outbreaks of rain which might lead to spot flooding in some parts of Munster and south Leinster.

"There is a spell of quite windy weather forecast on Wednesday and then again on Thursday. It's going to be very unsettled,” Linda Hughes added.

On Thursday, heavy rainfalls will spread across the country from the southwest, increasing the ongoing risk of spot flooding.

A mix of sunny spells and showers will follow in most parts of the country. The highest temperatures will range between 8 to 11C, with fresh to strong and gusty winds.

On Thursday night, the south and southwest are likely to see heavy showers, while the other parts can expect a mix of clear spells and showers.

Meanwhile, the heavy rain will continue to clear from the north overnight.

Temperatures will drop to 4 to 8C with fresh to strong and gusty winds.