Weather warning issued with snow and thunder forecast

Weather warning from Met Éireann

Heavier than expected snow has resulted in a Status Yellow Snow and Ice warning being issued in the early hours of this morning for counties Cavan, Monaghan, Westmeath, Leitrim and Longford.

Met Éireann is warning that falls of sleet and snow may lead to temporary accumulations.

The warning was issued at 5:11am this morning, Friday, March 1, taking immediate effect and will remain in place until 10am.

People are being warned of icy stretches on untreated surfaces, poor visibility and hazardous driving conditions.

Mixed and unsettled weather for the start of Meteorological Spring.

Rain, sleet and snow in Ulster and north Leinster will move southwards across the rest of the country through the day, falling mostly as rain by this afternoon, except on higher ground.

Hail and isolated thunderstorms are possible too. Drier conditions will follow in the northwest during the afternoon. It will become breezy and blustery later too, as a fresh to strong and gusty north to northeast wind develops. Cold, with afternoon highs of 3 to 7 degrees.

Tonight, remaining rain in eastern counties will become patchy and clear southeastwards overnight. Elsewhere, it'll be mainly dry with clear spells early on, but scattered showers will feed down from the north later, mainly affecting western and northern counties. Some of showers may be heavy with a chance of hail.

Lowest temperatures of between of -1 and +3 degrees with some frost and icy patches possible. Moderate, occasionally fresh north to northwest winds, will be strong and gusty on western and northern coasts.

Tomorrow Saturday, will bring a mix of sunny spells and showers, some heavy with a chance of hail. Afternoon highs of 5 to 8 degrees. Moderate to fresh northerly winds, will increase strong and gusty in west Connacht and west Munster for a time in the afternoon.

Showers will become more isolated on Saturday night and long clear spells will develop. Winds will back northwest and fall light to moderate with temperatures dipping to between -2 to +3 degrees. Frost and icy patches are possible.

A bright day on Sunday with sunny spells and scattered showers, becoming isolated towards evening. Top temperatures of 7 to 9 degrees. Light to moderate westerly winds will gradually back southwest by evening and reduce light.

Temperatures will fall quickly after dark on Sunday night under clear skies with frost and icy patches developing, and lows of -2 to +2 degrees. Cloud will thicken from the southwest overnight and temperatures will rise as winds back southeast. Outbreaks of rain will develop in Munster by morning.

Mostly cloudy with outbreaks of rain on Monday, heaviest and most persistent in the southern counties. Moderate to fresh and gusty easterly winds. Highs of 6 to 8 degrees.

Further outbreaks of rain though Monday night, with some heavy falls, with sleet possible on high ground. Light to moderate variable winds inland will be fresh and gusty near some coasts. Lows of 2 to 5 degrees

Current indications suggest rain will gradually clear northeastwards through the day with sunny spells developing. Highs of 7 to 10 degrees. Light to moderate westerly winds backing southerly later.

Current indications suggest our weather will remain fairly mixed but relatively mild through midweek next week.