ALERT: Met Éireann warns of ice and 'frost' with temperatures to hit -1

Met Eireann is warning of plunging temperatures with ice and frost to hit over the next couple of days.

They say it will be "windy on Thursday with widespread showers, some heavy and prolonged with the potential for hail and thunder.

"The lengthiest dry and sunny spells are expected across the east and southeast of the country.

"Highest temperatures of 7 to 10 degrees in fresh to strong and gusty southwest winds, reaching gale force on Atlantic coasts."

In their outlook, they said: "Rather cold with sunshine and showers at first. Milder with rain later."

This is their forecast for the rest of the week and weekend:

Thursday night: Showery rain will push south over Ireland on Thursday night with clearer conditions following from the north later in the night.

Lowest temperatures generally ranging from 1 to 5 degrees but a few degrees milder in the southwest and west.

A fresh northwest breeze will develop overnight.

Friday: A bright and breezy day on Friday with plenty of sunshine and just a few passing showers. Maximum temperatures will range from 9 to 12 degrees in a fresh northwest breeze. Cold on Friday night with a fairly widespread frost developing as winds fall light. Lowest temperatures of -1 to +3 degrees with patches of dense fog developing in some areas.

Saturday: Frost and fog will gradually clear during Saturday morning with lots of sunshine expected for a time.

However, cloud will build across the south of the country by afternoon with rain developing on the south coast by around lunchtime.

Rain will then extend gradually northwards across Munster and Connacht on Saturday evening but holding mostly dry elsewhere.

Highest temperatures generally ranging 6 to 9 degrees but a little milder on the south coast with a moderate southeast breeze developing.

On Saturday night, it will be largely dry in northern counties early on, and turning quite cold for a time with a touch of frost possible with lowest temperatures of 1 to 4 degrees.

However, cloud and rain will push in towards dawn on Sunday. There'll be outbreaks of rain elsewhere and it will be less cold with lowest temperatures of 5 to 9 degrees.

Sunday: Breezy on Sunday with outbreaks of rain and drizzle extending to all areas. A further spell of heavy rain will push in across the south later in the day.

A milder day with highest temperatures of 9 to 13 degrees in a fresh and gusty south or southeast breeze.

Mild and breezy on Sunday night with rain clearing eastwards and scattered showers following from the west.

Lowest temperatures of 7 to 10 degrees in a fresh southwest breeze.