IRELAND IS braced for more snow, strong winds and rain over the course of the first weekend since lockdown restrictions were eased.
Met Eireann has issued a countrywide status yellow wind warning which is due to stay in place until the early hours of Saturday morning.
It comes as large parts of Ireland have already begun to see snow with temperatures dropping significantly amid freezing conditions.
The national forecaster confirmed on its website that “strong northerly winds” are set to hit Ireland today with gusts of up to 100km/h and a potential risk of coastal flooding.
Met Eireann added: "Widespread frost this morning and icy stretches on untreated surfaces. Dry in the east with sunny spells, frequent showers affect the western half of the country.
"More persistent rain will extend southwards across the country in the afternoon, turning heavy at times and wintry over high ground. Becoming increasingly windy, with strong and gusty northerly winds, afternoon temperatures of 3 to 5 degrees will rise to between 5 and 8 later this evening.
"This evening and tonight will be windy, with outbreaks of showery rain, clearer conditions, with scattered showers, will extend gradually from the east. Overnight temperatures of 4 to 6 degrees in fresh to strong northerly winds, easing in most parts by morning.
"A drier day on Saturday for most places, with improving sunshine, it'll stay rather cloudy along Atlantic counties and in east Leinster with showery rain continuing there for a time.
"Afternoon temperatures 5 to 7 degrees, in mostly moderate north to northeast winds, strong for a time on western and southern coasts, then slackening later."
