Strong to gale-force winds with gusts of up to 130km an hour and thundery showers forecast for last night could be set to continue periodically until the end of the week, Met Éireann has warned.
While motorists who spent much of last week coping with icy roads and morning frost can expect this to largely disappear by today, there will be a significant wind chill factor, meaning it is likely to continue to feel extremely cold this week.
Met Éireann yesterday issued a severe weather forecast for last night, due to a deepening depression which was expected to pass close to the northern coast overnight.
According to Met Éireann forecaster, Gerald Fleming, there could be more very strong winds at times over the next four to five days, particularly tomorrow.
Heavy showers are also likely to lead to poor visibility and poor driving conditions.
"What [the stormy weather] does is that it tends to act against frost, but it will certainly feel very cold out," he said.
"Temperatures certainly won't be below freezing in any widespread sense . . . but it will feel every bit as cold."
Westerly winds were forecast to increase to strong to gale force last night, meaning speeds 50-70km/hr, and giving gusts of 110-130km/hr in exposed places.
Strongest winds were forecast over Connacht, Ulster and north Leinster, where some heavy thundery showers were also expected, with some wintry showers in the northwest.
Poor weather and freezing conditions over the weekend, including hailstone showers and black ice in some parts, led to reports of a number of road collisions around the country.
Gardaí yesterday also warned motorists to drive carefully and slowly on roads, particularly in the midlands and northeast.
According to the official Met Éireann summary, today will be cold and very blustery with strong and gusty westerly winds.
While there will be some sunny spells, there will also be some heavy showers with temperatures ranging from 5 to 9 degrees.
It is expected to become very windy for a time tomorrow, with showers or longer spells of rain, heaviest early on in the day in eastern areas, and then later in the day in the west.
Wednesday will be dry and bright to begin with. However, cloud will increase during the day, with outbreaks of rain reaching western areas during the afternoon.