The month of March will begin cold and very windy indeed.
Met Eireann has issued an orange wind warning for Donegal, Galway, Leitrim, Mayo and Sligo, starting on Saturday afternoon.
A status yellow wind warning has been issued for Dublin, Kildare, Longford, Louth, Wexford, Wicklow, Westmeath, Meath, Roscommon, Clare, Cork, Kerry, Limerick and Waterford.
Strong winds are forecast from Saturday afternoon to early Sunday morning, with speeds upwards of 80km/h likely, and gusts of up to 130km/h possible.
Motorists are being asked to remain vigilant while on the road.
Temperatures are expected to sink below freezing on Saturday night, perhaps as low as minus two degrees on Sunday, with wintry showers expected.
The oncoming weather front will bring rain, hail, and thundery showers over the weekend, becoming ncreasingly wintry on Sunday night, with possible snow accumulation.
Monday will be even colder, with temperatures expected to drop to minus three degrees. Snow and sleet showers will continue on Tuesday night and Wednesday.