After snow flurries temperatures will drop to -4 at weekend

After Thursday’s flurry of snow the rest of the week is set to get even colder as temperatures are expected to drop to minus 4 degrees at the weekend.

Met Éireann meteorologist Pat Clarke said there would be a "big change" in the weather in the coming days compared with recent mild temperatures in the mid-teens.

“With the temperatures only in single figures and a breeze, there’ll be a significant wind chill so it’ll feel a lot colder,” he said.

“As the nights go forward the air temperatures will fall below freezing. Friday, Saturday, Sunday will be coldest nights.”

Mr Clarke said there was a chance of snow and sleet in northern and western areas mainly on higher ground in the next few days.

“Frost is going to be more of an issue and icy roads probably,” he said.

“Basically a more wintry feel to the weather. ”

Thursday started bitterly cold and wet until snow arrived on parts of the island to cheer up the nation’s spirits.

Met Éireann forecasters predicted some snow across the country and particularly on northern and western hills.

However, early on Thursday people had reported snowfall in counties Dublin, Meath, Offaly and Kildare.

Snow caused disruption on some roads in Northern Ireland with the main roads between Limavady and Coleraine blocked temporarily as a result of snow. The PSNI advised motorists to exercise extreme caution when travelling on those routes.

A status yellow "be aware" alert for widespread heavy rain for counties Mayo, Donegal and Sligo was in place until 9pm.

AA Roadwatch urged motorists to reduce their speed and allow a safe braking distance from the vehicle in front during the rainfall warning.

Frost will form overnight as hail and sleet are set to continue to fall into the night with some snow on higher grounds.

Friday will continue cold with wintry showers, hitting the north and west of the country the hardest with gusty west to northwest winds.

Snow is expected to fall mainly on higher grounds.