Freezing conditions to continue with showers and 'difficult' driving conditions forecast

It is to be bitterly cold across the country on Friday morning, with showers expected to make overnight driving conditions difficult. 

Met Éireann noted that it was very cold this morning with widespread frost and ice on untreated surfaces. There were a few patches of freezing fog, leading to difficult road conditions.

"Most areas will have a dry morning with some sunshine, but showers will move in across the northwest," Met Eireann said. 

The showers were forecast to extend southeastwards across Connacht and Ulster during the afternoon and evening, turning wintry in places with icy conditions in some areas. Maximum temperatures of 0 to +4 degrees are expected in moderate southwest winds.

It will be cold on Friday night with clear spells and scattered showers, some wintry and with icy conditions in places. Areas of mist and fog will develop, especially in the midlands. Lowest temperatures generally ranging 0 to -3 degrees in light to moderate southwest winds, Met Éireann forecast. 

It is to be another cold day on Saturday with mist and fog in some areas.

However, the national forecaster says there will be plenty of dry weather, but with a few showers, especially in southern and western coastal counties.

Highest temperatures of 1 to 4 degrees generally, but between 5 and 8 degrees in coastal areas of the south and west in light to moderate southwest winds.