Met Éireann has issued a yellow weather warning for several parts of the country, with strong winds and cold temperatures expected overnight on Friday into Saturday morning.
Winds in Connacht, Leinster, Cavan, Monaghan, Donegal and Waterford will reach up to 60km/h on Friday night and on Saturday.
Met Éireann forecast gusts of between 80 to 100 km/h tonight and early on Saturday morning - strongest in exposed and coastal regions.
Some parts of the country can also expect a light dusting of snow or sleet tonight – and temperatures will be below zero in some areas overnight.
Saturday will be a cold day with sunny spells and scattered showers for the morning, some still wintry.
Outbreaks of rain
It will become cloudy in the west and north during the morning, followed by outbreaks of rain in the afternoon.
The east and south will remain largely dry for the afternoon. Highest temperatures of only 3 to 6 degrees are expected, but temperatures of a few degrees higher in western coastal regions are likely.
It will be windy on Saturday morning, with fresh and gusty northwest winds, but winds will become westerly in the afternoon and decrease light to moderate.
Met Éireann forecaster Evelyn Cusack said Saturday and Sunday will be cold and dry due to polar air sweeping over Ireland.
“It will be cold on Saturday and Sunday, but still quite sunny on Sunday.
However temperatures of 3-6 degrees are expected and there may be some sleety showers,” she said.
Ms Cusack ruled out snow this weekend and next week and said the weather should get milder.