Frosty start with cold, bright blustery day ahead

Motorists are being urged to take care on the roads this morning as a Status Yellow ice warning is in place for all of Ireland.

Met Éireann issued the weather warning last night. It came into effect at 3am this morning and will remain in place until 10am.

It warns of "some icy stretches" this morning.

Weather wise, the national forecaster says it will be a cold, bright and blustery day with sunny spells and scattered showers. Some of the showers will be wintry with a possibility of hail and thunder. Maximum afternoon temperatures generally ranging 4 to 7 degrees in brisk west to northwest winds.

Showers will become isolated early tonight with frost forming in some areas as temperatures dip back to between zero and +4 degrees. However, cloud will increase from the west overnight and temperatures will rise. Outbreaks of rain will then develop in the west and north of the country.

Saturday looks set to be a rather cloudy and wet day with outbreaks of rain. The rain will be most persistent in the west and north of the country with the best of any dry or bright interludes in the east and south. Maximum temperatures of 8 to 11 degrees in strong west or southwest winds along with gales on exposed coasts.

Outbreaks of rain continuing overnight on Saturday, gradually pushing south over the country allowing colder and showery conditions to move in across northern counties. A contrast in overnight temperatures from north to south ranging from 2 or 3 degree in Ulster to 9 or 10 degrees along the south coast. Fresh and gusty westerly winds.

Sunday looks set to be a chilly and blustery day with widespread showers and some sunny spells. A few hail or sleet showers will occur over hills in the north. Highest temperatures of 6 to 9 degrees in fresh westerly winds. A few showers early on Sunday night along with rather chilly conditions initially with lows of 1 to 4 degrees. However, cloudier and milder conditions with scattered outbreaks of rain will move across the country later in the night.

Monday is expected to be a mild and breezy day with plenty of cloud and some patches of drizzle. There'll be bright spells also, especially across the east of the country. Maximum temperatures of 11 to 14 degrees in strong southwest winds. Persistent rain will develop in the west and north overnight with drier conditions elsewhere. Mild with lows of 10 to 12 degrees.

Early indications suggest Tuesday will be another mild and breezy day. There will be lots of dry weather in most areas but rain will affect some western and northern counties at times. Highest temperatures of 10 to 13 degrees in strong southwest winds.

Further outlook: Staying unsettled with rain or showers on most days.