People are being advised that cold weather over the next few days is going to be a "bit of a shock to the system".
Colder weather conditions are expected right across the country from this morning.
Met Éireann has issued a status yellow snow/ice warning for Donegal until midnight, where hail, sleet and snow showers are expected.
Meanwhile, a cold weather advisory is in effect for the rest of the country over the next two days, with people being told to expect "sharp to severe frosts and icy stretches".
Alan O'Reilly, forecaster with Carlow Weather, told Breakfast Briefing that the current forecasts suggest there'll be some very wintry weather over the next week.
He said: "There's really going to be a sudden drop in the temperature people feel outside this morning... and unfortunately also some heavy showers this morning. Some of those will be hail and sleet.
"It's going to stay cold now for the next couple of days - particularly today, tomorrow and into the weekend.
"The biggest issue - apart from maybe the hail showers this morning - will be the lower temperatures tonight. That will result in very icy conditions tomorrow morning."
