PICTURES: Heavy snowfall causes several schools to close across the country

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Several schools across Ireland have been closed following early-morning snowfall.

This comes as several weather warnings have been issued in the early hours of this morning. 

The government's Be Winter Ready programme advises schools and Early Learning and Childcare (ELC) settings to conduct a pre-event evaluation of what should be, or could be, in place to ensure the opening of the school in the event of severe weather. Decisions to close schools can be taken locally by management depending on conditions.

Areas for consideration are maintenance of premises and utilities, salting and gritting and transport to and from school or ECLs. 

Access to a battery operated radio and torches should also be put in place.

Some other issues that settings should take into account include conditions in the setting itself, capacity of the setting to ensure the health and safety of children and students.

The ability of parents, students, staff and school transport services to safely negotiate local road conditions to reach the setting as well as guidance and direction from the principal response agencies.

The snow and ice warning is in place for seven counties, including Donegal, Cavan, Kildare, Leitrim Longford, Monaghan and Westmeath. 

According to Met Éireann, icy stretches, poor visibility and hazardous travelling conditions are to be expected on the roads as temperatures dropped to -2C in some parts of the country overnight.

The warnings are in place until 8am today for Donegal, and 10 am for the rest of the counties affected.

This comes after the national forecaster warned that a rare 'thundersnow' could hit Ireland as the country braced itself for an Arctic blast.

Today, rain, sleet and snow can be expected across several counties, 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.

According to Met Eireann, mixed and unsettled weather can be expected for the start of Meteorological Spring.

The government's Be Winter Ready programme advises schools and Early Learning and Childcare (ELC) settings to conduct a pre-event evaluation of what should be, or could be, in place to ensure the opening of the school in the event of severe weather. Decisions to close schools can be taken locally by management depending on conditions.

Areas for consideration are maintenance of premises and utilities, salting and gritting and transport to and from school or ECLs. 

Access to a battery operated radio and torches should also be put in place.

Some other issues that settings should take into account include conditions in the setting itself, capacity of the setting to ensure the health and safety of children and students.

The ability of parents, students, staff and school transport services to safely negotiate local road conditions to reach the setting as well as guidance and direction from the principal response agencies.