A Status Orange Weather Warning affecting 17 counties has been issued, ahead of a weekend of dire weather conditions.
Counties Cavan, Monaghan, Donegal, Dublin, Kildare, Laois, Longford, Louth, Wicklow, Offaly, Westmeath, Meath, Roscommon, Mayo and Sligo have all been warned to brace for the worse.
Heavy snowfalls are expected during Saturday night, as the thermometer plunges down to -5C in places.
Motorists have been warned to be extremely careful out on the roads, specially around the secondary network, and avoid all unnecessary travel.