Brrr! Arctic snow and ice forecast for later this week

Met Eireann is forecasting showers of sleet and snow on Thursday and Friday.

Very cold Arctic air will be blown over the country with temperatures plunging to -3 at night.

Met Eireann said: "Thursday will be a bitterly cold day with afternoon temperatures of just 3 to 6 degrees.

"There'll be sunny spells and showers of rain, sleet and snow. The likelihood of snow will increase in the evening and night as temperatures fall to between -2 and +1 degrees. Frost and icy patches will develop also.

"Friday will continue very cold with sunny spells and showers of rain, sleet and snow. Highest temperatures of just 3 to 6 degrees.

"On Friday night a sharp or severe frost will develop with icy patches as temperatures fall to between -3 and 0 degrees.

Saturday will also be cold but conditions will get milder with rain forecast for Saturday night and Sunday.

The Irish Weather Online website said that the chill factor from the Arctic winds means that temperatures will feel a lot lower.