Two orange warnings issued as 'significant' snowfall expected in ...

During this time, the forecaster is warning of "heavy rain transitioning to sleet and snow" and "very difficult travelling conditions", poor visibility, travel disruption. 

Met Éireann says it is also expecting disruption and delays to air, rail and bus services, as well as "difficult conditions underfoot and animal welfare issues".

The second orange warning, a snow-ice warning for Clare, Galway, Limerick, and Tipperary will also be in place from midnight.

A cat making his way through the snow in Inchigeelagh, Co Cork. Picture Dan Linehan

Met Éireann says the same impacts - difficult travelling conditions, travel disruption, animal welfare issues, and poor visibility - are likely between then and the time the warning lapses at midday Thursday. 

A status yellow snow/ice warning was issued on Wednesday afternoon for Clare, Galway, Mayo and Roscommon, which is in place since 3.38pm and set to last until 9pm on Wednesday.

A status yellow snow and ice warning has also been issued for Carlow, Dublin, Kildare, Kilkenny, Laois, Offaly, Wexford, Wicklow and all of Munster.

That warning will be in place from 9pm tonight. Met Éireann says that poor visibility, hazardous travelling conditions and travel disruption, as well as animal welfare issues are expected in these areas until the warning lifts at midday tomorrow.

The entire island will be subject to a status yellow low temperature and ice warning from 8pm on Wednesday until midday on Thursday, very cold conditions and "widespread frost and icy stretches" expected.

Once again, Met Éireann is warned that conditions nationwide will be "very cold with widespread frost and icy stretches" likely throughout Wednesday and Thursday.

National outlook 

All counties will be subject to a Status Yellow low temperature and ice warning from 8pm on Wednesday until 10am tomorrow. File Picture: Denis Minihane

While Wednesday will be very cold, it will be mostly dry and sunny in most areas, though there will be scattered showers of sleet and snow in the north and northwest.

By this afternoon, conditions will turn somewhat cloudier with a spell of heavy rain moving into the west and southwest turning to hail, sleet and snow at times as it spreads inland.

Temperatures on Wednesday afternoon are not predicted to climb beyond 3C to 6C.

Wednesday night will see rain spread across the southern half of the country turning to sleet and snow at times away from coasts with some snow build-up possible.

Further north, it will be mostly dry with scattered wintry showers continuing in Ulster and north Connacht. Temperatures tonight will drop down to around 0C to -4C in light to moderate easterly or variable winds.  Widespread frost and ice will develop overnight..

Thursday will see outbreaks of rain, sleet and snow clear to the south by late morning, giving way to another very cold day with showers of rain, sleet, and snow expected across Connacht, Ulster and west Munster.

Some icy stretches will linger through the day. Temperatures on Thursday will range from 1C to 4C.

Tomorrow night will be very cold widespread frost and icy stretches developing once again.

At this stage, Friday is forecast to be mostly dry with spells of sunshine and just a few wintry showers near northern and Atlantic coasts. Highest temperatures Friday will range from 3C to 7C in moderate southwest to west winds.

Friday is expected to be quite wet and windy overnight with heavy rain spreading across the country from the southwest, accompanied by strong to near gale force and gusty southeasterly winds. Occasional falls of sleet are also possible early in the night. Met Éireann also says there is a chance of localised flooding.

Lowest temperatures on Friday night will range from freezing to around 5C.