The unseasonably mild weather of recent weeks is about to change, with freezing temperatures and the possibility of snow on the way.

Met Éireann said while today would remain cold and bright, air temperatures would dip below zero tonight with sharp frost and icy patches forecast in many parts.

Occasional showers of sleet and snow are also expected overnight and early tomorrow in Ulster, parts of Connacht and Kerry, with possible accumulations of 1-3cm in areas below 250 metres.

It will again be cold and bright tomorrow with some wintry shows, and high temperatures of 4-8 degrees.

“Outbreaks of rain will spread to all parts of the country during Tuesday night, accompanied by strengthening northwest to west winds,” the agency said.

Northwesterly winds will be strong and gusty during Wednesday, making it feel rather cold.

The outlook for the rest of the week is for it to remain dry and mostly sunny but still rather cold due to fresh, northwest to north winds.

Isolated wintry showers will affect north and west coasts, however, and also some Leinster coasts later.

The Government said last week it planned to have 210,000 tonnes of salt, stockpiled by the middle of next month, for treating snow-affected treated roads should the need arise.

That is 61 per cent more than the 130,000 tonnes used in the cold winter of 2009/2010 which featured two protracted cold snaps.