Met Éireann has warned there will be a likelihood of snow and ice across 17 counties today.

The status yellow warning  covers  all of Connaught  together with Dublin, Kildare, Laois, Longford, Louth, Wicklow, Offaly, Westmeath, Meath, Cavan, Monaghan and Donegal.

The national forecaster warned that widespread winter showers “may lead to snow accumulations” in places. The wintry showers are expected to start from 6am this morning and last until around 3am on Wednesday morning.

There will also be a risk of hail and thunder and snowfall is expected to be greatest in the northern half of the country, particularly on higher ground.

Temperatures will be low, ranging from zero to four degrees.

There will be strong winds along the western coast into tonight, with average speeds expected to be between 50 and 65 km/h. A status orange wind warning is in place over the next two days across Mayo, Galway, Donegal, Clare, Cork, Kerry and Limerick. Gusts of winds may reach up to 110km/h, according to Met Éireann.

Tonight heading into tomorrow morning winter showers will be confined to western parts of the country.

Met Eireann expects further wind warnings will be issued tomorrow night, with the potential for storm force winds to hit counties along the Atlantic coast due to a low pressure weather system.

The system will bring rain, accompanied by strengthening southwesterly winds which will increase to gale force along western coasts.