Weather warning as cold snap to affect three Midlands counties

Three Midlands counties are part of a nationwide weather warning ahead of a cold snap which will fall over the coming days.

A frost and ice is expected to set in from 6pm this evening, Thursday, January 2.

Offaly, Roscommon, and Westmeath are among 26 counties being warned about the possibility of treacherous conditions, as Met Eireann forecasts very cold weather.

Widespread frost and ice will be prevalent as temperatures are set to fall to -3 degrees or below in many areas.

A snow and sleet warning is also in place nationwide, and with the snowfall expected to set in from midnight, Saturday, January 4.

Spells of rain will spread northwards over Ireland during the course of Saturday, turning to sleet and snow in some areas.

Rain, sleet and snow will continue for a time on Sunday before clearing eastwards into the Irish Sea.

Other counties affected include Carlow, Cavan, Clare, Cork, Donegal, Dublin, Galway, Kerry, Kildare, Kilkenny, Leitrim, Laois, Limerick, Longford, Louth, Mayo, Meath, Monaghan, Sligo, Tipperary, Waterford, Wexford, and Wicklow.