A snow and ice warning is in place across the country until later this morning. Met Éireann has warned that scattered showers of hail, sleet and snow as well as icy stretches will lead to hazardous travelling conditions in some parts.
The yellow weather warning is in place until 11am. A yellow snow and ice warning is also in place across Northern Ireland over the same period.
Showers will be most widespread in the west and north of the country where some accumulations of snow are likely, while isolated thunderstorms will also occur.
During the afternoon, showers will die out and rain and milder conditions will push through in the south and west.
Highest temperatures of three to five degrees in the north and east, milder in the south and west with highs of six to nine degrees in moderate to fresh and gusty westerly winds.
Rain will spread eastwards across the country on Friday night turning heavy at times, especially in the west and southwest with a risk of localised flooding.
Lowest temperatures of zero to three degrees during the evening in the north and east but a milder four to eight degrees in the south and west.
Milder conditions will extend across the country overnight, as south to southwest winds increase fresh to strong and gusty.
Weekend
Rain will quickly clear on Saturday morning with sunny spells and showers following from the west.
Hail with isolated thunderstorms are possible, while some may turn to sleet through the evening. While the day will start mild, temperatures will drop with early afternoon highs of four to seven degrees, in fresh and gusty westerly winds.
Showers will become confined to western and northern coastal counties on Saturday night with long dry periods and clear spells elsewhere.
Met Éireann has said apart from a few wintry showers in the northwest at first, there will be a mostly dry start to Sunday.
However, rain will develop in the southwest and spread northeastwards to all areas through the afternoon and evening. Highest temperatures will be between seven to 11 degrees, but becoming milder during the evening as moderate southeasterly winds veer southwesterly.
Monday will be mild and mostly cloudy with outbreaks of rain or drizzle in the west during the morning, extending eastwards during the afternoon.
Afternoon highs will range from nine to 13 degrees with fresh southwest winds veering westerly and moderating by evening. The rain will clear on Monday evening with scattered showers following into the northwest overnight.