Status orange warnings have been issued in five counties warning of 'significant snowfall accumulations'. An orange snow warning is in place in Clare, Cork, Limerick, Tipperary and Waterford and travellers have been warned to take particular care while driving.

From midnight onwards, Cork will also be under a Status Orange alert for Snow and Rain, where heavy downpours are expected to turn to sleet and snowfall overnight. It's bad news for the many people hoping for an early 'White Christmas' as the wet weather could make it hard for any of the white stuff to stick.

Met Éireann has placed three counties under a Status Orange rain warning this weekend as Storm Bert gets set to bring intense falls of rain. The national forecaster named Storm Bert on Thursday morning and also issued a Status Yellow wind and rain warning for Ireland from Friday night at 10pm into Saturday morning,

Met Éireann has now issued a Status Orange snow-ice warning for Clare, Limerick, Tipperary and Galway, which will take effect from midnight and remain in place until 12pm tomorrow. The national forecaster warns that "significant snowfall accumulations" are expected.

The Met Office has warned Brits to prepare for a weekend of rain, wind and snow as Storm Bert sweeps the country. Weather warnings are in place every day until Sunday – including seven on Saturday – as the country braces for more wintry weather after temperatures plummeted earlier in the week.