Spring to be ushered in with snow, ice and high winds

It might be the first of March but there is to be no let up in wintry conditions with Met Éireann issuing three separate weather warnings.

There is a status yellow snow and ice warning for Connacht, Leinster, Cavan, Monaghan and Donegal with "heavy snow showers" expected overnight leading to accumulations of 3cm in parts of Connacht.

This warning comes into effect at 11am on Tuesday until 9am on Wednesday.

There is also a status yellow wind warning issued for the entire country, with gusts of up to 110km/h expected.

A status orange wind warning has been issued for Galway, Mayo, Clare, Kerry, Limerick and Waterford from 11am on Tuesday until 8am on Wednesday.

This status orange warning, which is the second highest level of warning, could bring gusts of up to 130km/h overnight.

'Very disturbed weather'

Met Éireann has warned of a period of “very disturbed” weather ahead.

"We are in for a period of very disturbed weather with strong winds overnight and showers of rain, sleet and snow expected for Connacht, Munster and Leinster," said forecaster Joan Blackburn.

The weather will remain disturbed and unsettled for the rest of the week according to Ms Blackburn.

It will continue to be extremely windy in places on Wednesday with further heavy blustery and wintry showers for a time, but winds will ease and showers turn to rain or hail by afternoon.

Winds will eventually moderate considerably on Wednesday night and showers will become isolated.

Slight to sharp ground frost will develop and there will be a risk of ice also. Temperatures will be between minus 1 and 2 degrees.