Householders and motorists have been warned to prepare for cold and wintry conditions this weekend, with temperatures plummeting to as low as -3 degrees overnight.
Met Éireann said conditions would become extremely cold tonight and through the weekend with widespread severe frost, leading to icy stretches on roads.
Wintry showers of sleet and snow are also forecast for the coastal counties of Leinster, Ulster and north Connacht, giving accumulations of up to 5 cm in low lying areas.
The Sally Gap in Co Wicklow is impassble tonight due to icy conditions. There have also been snow showers in parts of the country, including Mayo and Monaghan.
AA Roadwatch warned of extremely icy conditions around Ballina. In Monaghan, there were icy conditions along the Ballybay to Carrickmackross Road.
Snow has also been reported around Buncrana, Glenties and Letterkenny. In Meath, conditions around Navan are also icy.
Met Éireann forecaster Deirdre Lowe said the unseasonable cold snap was due to a cold air mass emanating from Scandanavia.
She said the cold spell would worsen next week with temperatures dropping to -6 degrees at nighttime.
AA Roadwatch’s Ronan Gilligan urged motorists to exercise caution, stick to the main routes where possible and be on the alert for black ice.
The Road Safety Authority advised motorists to check tyres, carry a screen scraper and de-icer, ensure the windscreen washer system contains anti-icing fluid, and to use dipped headlights. Motorists are also advised to watch out for black ice and grit spreaders.
Last January there was widespread disruption as councils struggled to grit roads and pavements due to a shortage of salt during the worst cold spell in decades.
However, according to Seán O’Neill of the National Roads Authority (NRA), the country now has “more than ample” supplies of rock salt. He said 80,000 tonnes of salt were bought in bulk by the NRA, comprising 55,000 tonnes at storage locations countrywide and the rest outside the State. There were also 25,000 tonnes of earlier surplus supplies.
Mr O’Neill said the authority conducted regular reviews with local authorities on maintaining supplies, and the State’s average yearly usage of salt was 50,000 to 60,000 tonnes. The fact the salt was bought in bulk and at off-peak times meant a “much better price” was obtained.
The Department of Transport said local authorities were responding to the cold snap in line with normal procedures and that road salt was already being used. The Department of Environment, Heritage and Local Government is also monitoring the situation.
Galway City Council said it would have three trucks gritting and salting roads into and around the city throughout the weekend.
To avoid water pipes and tanks freezing, Irish Insurance Federation advised householders to keep their homes well heated, leave the loft or hatch door open and insulate exposed pipes.
People planning to go away for the weekend should turn off the water at the mains and drain the cold water system, or leave the heating on low.
IIF spokesman Michael Horan said: “If a pipe or tank does burst, you should turn off the mains water supply immediately and have emergency repairs carried out as soon as possible to minimise the damage.”
Age Action urged people to keep in contact with their older neighbours during the cold weather.
The wintery conditions posed a real challenge to elderly people especially those who were house-bound or living alone, it said.
Spokesman Eamon Timmins also advised people that maintaining comfortable temperatures [18-21 degrees] in the home was essential to avoid an increased risk of respiratory problems.
"Medical research has found that when temperatures fall below 16 degrees Celsius there is an increased risk of respiratory problems. Where it drops below 12 degrees, the blood thickens and there is an increased risk of stroke and heart attack," he said.
There are a number of events taking place around the country this weekend for those determined to venture out.
Food and Wine magazine's annual Christmas show begins today at the RDS in Dublin.
The three-day gastronomic event offers a number of cooking masterclasses as well as demos and tastings designed to create the perfect festive gathering meals.
Irish Times literary correspondent Eileen Battersby is to give the keynote address at this year's Patrick Kavanagh Festival which continues at Patrick Kavanagh Centre, Inniskeen, Co Monaghan until Sunday.
A number of traffic restrictions will be in place tomorrow afternoon for the Irish Congress of Trade Union’s rally against the Government’s austerity plan.
Gardaí plan to restrict traffic on a number of streets along the route including: Memorial Road, Matt Talbot Bridge, Tara Street, Burgh Quay, O’Connell Street, Parliament Street, Wellington Quay, Nicholas Street, Christchurch Area, Nassau Street, Dawson Street, South Georges Street, Dame Street and Fishamble Street.
Luas Red Line services will only operate between Tallaght and Smithfield due to the protest.