Met Eireann has issued a status yellow snow/ice warning for Ireland with arctic-like conditions set to batter the country.
Comes into effect this evening at 10pm and will remain in place until tomorrow afternoon.
For this period, Met Eireann has forecast "squally showers of hail, sleet and snow" that will lead to treacherous road conditions tonight and into tomorrow morning.
The warning reads: "Blustery squally showers of hail, sleet and snow with icy stretches on untreated surfaces will lead to hazardous driving conditions on Wednesday night and Thursday morning. Some thunder and lightning expected too."
A forecaster said: "It will turn much colder early on Wednesday night as rain clears to the east.
"Showers will follow behind, falling as sleet and snow in places leading to poor driving conditions. Chance of isolated thunderstorms as well as hail, with lowest temperatures of -2 to +1 degrees allowing for some frost and icy stretches to develop in mostly moderate southwest winds."
The national forecast adds: “A cold and windy day with sunny spells and scattered blustery showers, some falling as hail, sleet and snow on higher ground. Some of these showers may also be heavy and thundery, especially in the west and north
