Met Éireann has extended its nationwide Status Yellow snow and ice warning until 10am tomorrow.

The forecaster said wintry showers of hail, sleet and snow are expected with localized accumulations, especially on high ground.

There will also be some icy stretches on roads and footpaths.

Met Éireann forecaster Elizabeth Coleman said there have been some wintery showers in Cork and Kerry this morning – and more are expected in other parts of the country later.

“The nature with showers is your area might be hit or not hit but they are going to become widespread across the country throughout the day,” she said.

“Towards evening and overnight they will become more wintery in the north midlands and north of the country.

“They will tend to fall as snow on higher ground and we could see sleet and snow on lower levels in the north overnight, because temperatures will be falling back then as well.”

She said road users should take extra care, particularly tomorrow morning.

“Our models are showing that temperatures will be dropping from 6am until 9am – so that is rush hour traffic,” she said.

“There will be frost and ice on parts of the roads and there might be some lying snow in some areas – probably not on the roads but in the fields around.”

Meanwhile a Status Yellow gale warning is in place in coastal areas from Carnsore Point to Roches Point to Valentia and on the Irish Sea south of Anglesea.