Ireland is set to be hit by hail, thunderstorms and sleet over the weekend as a cold snap affects most areas nationwide.
Temperatures will plummet to -3C within days with frost and ice set to bring perilous conditions.
Met Eireann says snow could fall on Friday and Saturday night, with higher ground areas particularly vulnerable to a dusting of snow.
It will start off wet and breezy on Friday morning with outbreaks of rain spreading northeastwards, turning heavy in places with the risk of some surface spot flooding.
The rain will begin to clear from the southwest during the morning, with sunny spells and heavy showers following for the afternoon.
Isolated thunderstorms and hail are possible as scattered showers and sunny spells gradually extend to all parts, with highest temperatures of 7 to 12C.
A forecaster said: "Heavy showers will gradually become confined to the north and west, with the chance hail, or sleet on higher ground.
"Long clear spells will develop elsewhere, while there will still be a chance of isolated showers. Lowest temperatures of -1 to 4C, coldest over Munster, with frost and some icy patches developing. Patchy mist and fog will develop also in light to occasionally moderate westerly or variable breezes.
"On Saturday morning some lingering showers in Ulster will gradually clear northwards. Otherwise a good deal of dry and bright weather to start.
"However, cloud will spread from the south through the late morning as light to moderate variable winds back southeast to east strengthening as heavy outbreaks of rain extend from the south through the afternoon and evening.
"Rain may turn to sleet at times particularly over high ground. Cooling as the precipitation arrives with afternoon highest of 5 to 10C.
"A generally wet and windy night [on Saturday] with outbreaks of rain becoming widespread and turning heavy at times, while it may briefly turn to sleet over higher ground in the south early in the night. Lowest temperatures of 1 to 6C.
"Blustery with widespread thundery showers through much of the day [on Sunday] but more in the way of sunny spells and drier interludes developing later. Highest temperatures of 7 to 10C."
They continued for Sunday night: "Showers will die out early in the night becoming mostly dry with clear spells, the best of which will be in the south, coldest there too with lowest temperatures of -3 to 3C, leading to frost and some icy patches.
"Largely dry and bright on Monday, though patchy light rain or drizzle will develop at times near southern coasts. Highest temperatures of 9 to 12C.
"Mostly dry with a mix of cloud and clear spells [on Monday night], and just a slight risk of isolated patches of drizzle in the southwest. Lowest temperatures of 0 to 5C with a touch of frost possible in the east. Patchy mist and fog will form in light to occasionally moderate southeasterly winds.
"Pleasant bright spells early in the day [on Tuesday], but cloud will build in from the west with rain extending into west Ulster and Connacht through the afternoon. It will however stay dry and bright in the southeast through day light hours. Highest temperatures of 9 to 14C."
