Weather charts are showing an icy blast hitting Kildare and most of the country next week with the likelihood of snow.

Overnight temperatures plunged as low as -4 or -5 degrees Celsius in parts of the county at the weekend and again on Monday night.

And advance forecasts are now suggesting that snow falling on low ground as well as high ground next week.

According to current weather charts by weather data site Wxcharts.com, the snowy conditions (shown in purple) are likely to hit on Tuesday night into Wednesday.

Irish Weather Online experts warned that "colder air may make a brief appearance" around the night of Tuesday 28th into Wednesday 29th.

The Carlow Weather page on Facebook is forecasting a "short, cold blast possible around January 27th to 29th."

However these conditions will then quickly swing back to mild temperatures by the end of the week, according to Irish Weather Online experts.

They added: "The start of February will see with a very mild start with temperatures well above average."