Fetch in those eagerly early potted daffodils, for temperatures are due to drop by up to ten degrees over the next few days.
Met Éireann is anticipating a “pretty cold spell after an incredibly mild winter so far”, according to its head of forecasting Gerald Fleming.
In addition, a gale warning has been issued and high winds are expected along coastal routes. Cross winds may be a problem on open or exposed roads.
Gardaí have issued a warning to road users, urging safe driving with plenty of space between vehicles. It has also advised drivers against undertaking any unnecessary journeys.
DART services have resumed between Bray and Greystones following a signal fault at Greystones, but Rosslare and Gorey services are operating with up to an hour delay.
Conditions are not expected to be anything like those of December 2010, when temperatures plummeted and the island was carpeted in snow, but there will be frost and icy patches and some wintry showers, Mr Fleming said.
"It won't be severe, but there will be some snow on high ground, mainly in the west and north-west, and with temperatures below zero at night,"he said.
The east and south are expected to benefit most from dry, bright but brisk conditions with the west bearing the brunt of rain showers.
The "very benign period" over the past two months has seen daytime temperatures of up to 13 to 14 degrees celsius in some areas, according to Met Éireann, prompting daffodils to bloom, strawberry plants to produce pale fruit, and garden birds to check out nest boxes far earlier than normal.
On average to date, January's air temperatures have been about four degrees above the same period last year.
