Temperatures drop to -4 as weather warning is in place for 17 counties

It's going to be chilly.

At present, a status yellow low temperature/ice warning is in place for Connacht and Leinster. The warning states that "temperatures are expected to fall as low as minus 4 degrees, with the coldest temperatures around dawn, staying below freezing until mid-morning on Saturday."

The warning is valid until 11am on Saturday 18 January.

In terms of today's forecast, it's set to be a cold start with frost slowly clearing. A dry and partly cloudy day is expected for most, with just the odd shower near the north coast. Any showers will mostly die away this afternoon with good sunny spells developing. Frost is expected to develop quickly as it gets darker too. As for tonight, some frost is set to to form with patches of mist and fog also, especially in the south and west. Minimum temperatures of zero to minus 4 degrees are forecast. At present, Claremorris, Gurteen, Markree Castle, Mullingar, and Mount Dillon are just some of the places that have registered -3 temperatures. It's a bit chillier in Athenry though with the mercury dropping to -4. All in all, wrap up because it's shaping up to be a chilly day. https://twitter.com/MetEireann/status/1218411278366072832