A bitterly cold night lies ahead with gale force winds affecting the north and north west.

Met Eireann has issued a status orange alert for winds gusting up to 110 kilometres per hour in Donegal, Galway, Leitrim, Mayo and Sligo.

The warning will remain in place until midnight.

Elsewhere, wintry showers are affecting parts of Leinster and Ulster and a band of heavy rain and sleet showers will spread southwards early tonight.

There will be overnight lows of 0 to 2 degrees Celcius.

Meteorologist Joan Blackburn has this update: