GOOSEBUMPS and purple skin will dominate Sunday's St Patrick's Day parades if forecasts prove correct - the current spell of cold rain and sleet is set to continue throughout the holiday weekend.
According to the Meteorological Service, the weather will remain unsettled and showers of rain and sleet will fall over the weekend. Temperatures will remain below 10 Celsius and icy conditions may develop.
Temperatures were as low as 3 Celsius in some parts yesterday. Snow and sleet fell in the north and east, while heavy rains hammered in the south and southwest. Two thirds of the average monthly rain has fallen on Cork Airport over the last two days.
Donegal experienced its coldest day so far this year. Snow and sleet continued to fall and the Malin Head weather centre reported choppy seas, with waves from eight to 10 feet high.
Much of Northern Ireland was struck by similar icy blasts and snowfalls yesterday. Motorists were warned to be alert for black ice, particularly on side roads.
Apart from some hilly areas and parts of Fermanagh and Tyrone, most of the snow had cleared by yesterday afternoon. However, overnight snow and bitterly cold east winds were forecast for many parts of the North.
The wintry conditions are the result of cold air from the continent.