Weather WARNING: Snow, ice, sleet public warned as wintry weather set to hit #SNEACHTA

Drivers have been urged to take with 'hazardous driving conditions' forecast due to wintry weather that will bring snow, ice and rain to Ireland. 

Met Éireann has issued a snow-ice warning for the entire country on Wednesday night through to Thursday. 

It forecasts that rain, sleet and snow will spread northwards across the country later tonight (Wednesday) and during Thursday accompanied by strengthening easterly winds.

Accumulations of snow are expected in many areas along with icy conditions.

Sleet and snow will likely transition to rain in southern areas for a time.

Possible Impacts:
● Hazardous driving conditions
● Travel disruption
● Poor Visibility

The alert is valid from 3am to 11pm Thursday. 

In its weather forecast outlook, Met Éireann says it will continue very cold with falls of rain, sleet and snow at times through to the weekend when it will become milder with rain in the forecast. MORE BELOW TWEET.

Very cold today

Outbreaks of rain, sleet & snow in the southwest will extend into parts of Leinster this afternoon & evening️❄️

It will be brighter & drier elsewhere with sunny spells & just isolated showers️

Highest temperatures of 3 to 6 degrees️ pic.twitter.com/yIFzTw9gwL

— Met Éireann (@MetEireann) March 8, 2023

A Status Yellow warning will also be in place on March 9 with widespread icy stretches on Thursday night and Friday morning.

Widespread icy stretches on Thursday night and Friday morning are forecast which will lead to more hazardous driving conditions and possible travel disruption.

National Forecast issued at 12.41 pm on Wednesday, March 8.

Wednesday: Outbreaks of rain, sleet and snow in the southwest will extend into parts of Leinster this evening. It will be brighter and drier elsewhere with sunny spells and just isolated showers. Highest temperatures of 3 to 6 degrees with light to moderate easterly winds, fresher in the southwest.

A cold and frosty night with some icy stretches and lowest temperatures of -2 to 0 degrees. It will start off mainly dry, apart from some wintry showers in the east. However, after midnight, rain, sleet and snow will spread northeastwards over Munster and into southern parts of Leinster and Connacht with freshening easterly winds.

Thursday: The morning will be very cold with rain sleet and snow spreading northeastwards to most areas with poor visibility and very hazardous driving conditions. In the afternoon, sleet and snow will continue over Ulster, Connacht and north Leinster, but will turn mainly to rain and sleet further south. The northwest of Ulster may stay drier throughout, however. Temperatures of 0 to 5 degrees with fresh, easterly winds.

Thursday night will be cold with falls of sleet and snow in many areas. The sleet and snow will continue overnight over the eastern half of the country. It will become drier further west with frost and ice developing. Lowest temperatures of -4 to 0 degrees coldest in the northwest, with northerly winds easing light to moderate.

Friday: The morning, rain, sleet and snow in the east will clear to give a cold, mainly dry day with sunny spells. Highest temperatures of 2 to 6 degrees in mostly light northeasterly breezes.

Cold night with severe frost and icy conditions developing. It will start off dry. However, later in the night, rain, sleet and snow wil spread northeastwards over Munster and south Leinster. Lowest temperatures of minus 4 to plus 1 degrees generally, coldest in the north.

Saturday: The morning will feature rain, sleet and snow will spread to all areas and will transition mainly to rain and sleet as milder air follows. But it may continue to fall as sleet and snow in Ulster, where temperatures will stay down at between 1 and 4 degrees. It will be milder to the south and west with temperatures of 7 to 10 degrees.

On Saturday night, rain, sleet and snow will gradually clear to the northeast. Lowest temperatures of 1 to 5 degrees.

Sunday A mild and wet day as a band of rain spreads across the country. Highest temperatures of 10 to 13 degrees with moderate to fresh southerly winds.