LAST UPDATE | 1 Apr 2019

MET ÉIREANN HAS issued a snow-ice warning for western and northern counties ahead of a cold and wet start to April.

The forecaster issued the Status Yellow alert for Connacht, Cavan, Monaghan, Donegal, Longford and Louth earlier today.

The 36-hour warning is valid from midnight tonight until 12pm on Wednesday, and will see hail and sleet fall and snow accumulations on high ground.

The forecaster revealed that it’ll be a cold start to the month, with persistent rain set to move across Connacht and west Ulster this afternoon and early this evening.

Tonight is expected to be very cold with clear spells and showers, mainly in the western half of the country, as temperatures drop to between -1 and 3 degrees.

Looking at tomorrow, Met Éireann has forecast cold and blustery conditions. 

Rain showers are due to hit the western half of the country in the morning, becoming widespread during the day. The forecaster said some of the showers will be heavy, with wintry showers of sleet possible. 

There is also a risk of snow showers over mountains and thunder, Met Éireann said. 

Moving on to Wednesday through to Friday, Met Éireann has forecast cold conditions with a mix of sunny spells and showers, some heavy with a continued risk of thunder. 

At night, clear spells are due to develop, with most of the showers retreating to western, northern and eastern coastal counties.  

Wednesday will be windy, with some moderate north to northwest winds, according to Met Éireann.

Winds on Thursday will be mostly moderate north to northeasterly. These will decrease further on Friday.

Met Éireann said early indications for the weekend suggest that “temperatures will return close to normal and there will be a good deal of dry weather, with sunny spells”.

With additional reporting from Stephen McDermott.