Warning over icy road conditions

Widespread ground frost has caused very dangerous driving conditions on most routes this morning.

Some of the worst affected areas are in counties Cavan, Donegal, Sligo, Leitrim, Longford and Louth.

Hail, sleet and snow is also affecting Ulster and Connaught and will later spread to west Munster and north Leinster

Bad weather has also hit the US where five people have died in some of the worst snowstorms in a decade there, while flights have been cancelled across Europe and heavy snowfall in the UK has played havoc with transport infrastructure.

Meteorologist David Rodgers, from Met Eireann, says while we shouldn't see the same volumes of snow as in the UK, it will be very cold.

"It's going to stay very cold in all parts of the country today."

"It'll be serious enough in terms of snowfall, especially in Ulster and Connacht," he said.

He said frost could remain on the ground in many places, leading to accumulations of snow.

"Roads could be treacherous, especially untreated roads."