Ireland weather: Met Eireann maps show temperatures plunging to -11 tonight amid orange warning

Met Eireann weather maps have shown that temperatures could plunge as low as -11 degrees during the night.

A Status Orange weather warning is currently in place for Leinster, Cavan, Monaghan, Munster and Connacht until 11am on Thursday, while a status yellow low temperature warning is currently in place nationwide until noon on Friday.

The national forecaster has warned of 'bitterly cold' conditions this evening.

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It looks like the ongoing cold snap will stick around for much of the rest of the week, as Met Eireann have warned that more snow may be on the way. In their overview for the next few days, they write: "Very cold initially with widespread frost and ice both by day and by night. Temperatures increasing through Friday as rain, sleet and snow moves northeastwards over the country. Milder for the weekend."

Here's everything you need to know about the weather forecast for the days ahead.

Tonight (Wednesday 8th January)

Remaining bitterly cold this evening with widespread frost, ice and patches of freezing fog. Dry for most, but scattered wintry showers will affect the west and north, with some moving into eastern coastal areas too. Tonight will be extremely cold and largely dry. A few wintry showers will affect parts of the northwest and some east coasts. There will be severe frost, ice or black ice with patches of freezing fog too. Lowest temperatures of -8 to -3 degrees in a light variable breeze.

Tomorrow (Thursday 9th January)

Thursday will be another bitterly cold day with widespread frost, ice and some freezing fog lingering throughout the day in many areas. Mainly dry with sunny spells. Scattered wintry showers in the north and west will become isolated later. Highest temperatures of -1 to +4 degrees in a light variable breeze.

Thursday night will start off dry and very cold with severe frost and freezing fog developing. Cloud will build from the southwest overnight and a band of rain, sleet and snow will move northeastwards over Munster and southern parts of Leinster and Connacht. Further north and east it will stay dry and very cold. Lowest temperatures of -7 to -2 degrees generally, coldest early in the night. Winds will become easterly and will increase mostly light to moderate by morning.

Friday 10th January

On Friday morning, rain, sleet and snow will continue to spread northeastwards, and will turn mostly to rain or sleet by the afternoon. Ulster and north Leinster will stay mainly dry. Highest afternoon temperatures of 1 to 5 degrees generally, coldest in Ulster It will become milder near the south coast. Moderate, occasionally fresh, east to southeast winds.

Friday night will be mostly cloudy with outbreaks of rain and drizzle, which will clear northeastwards overnight. It won't be as cold as previous nights with lowest temperatures of 0 to 5 degrees. Southerly winds will ease light allowing fog to develop.

Saturday 11th January

On Saturday morning, outbreaks of rain will continue and then gradually clear to the east and north through the afternoon. Highest temperatures of 4 to 7 degrees generally, milder in parts of the west and southwest, in mostly light southwesterly breezes. Saturday night will be mainly dry with lowest temperatures of 2 to 6 degrees.

Sunday 12th January

Sunday will be mostly cloudy with outbreaks of rain. It will be noticeably milder with highest temperatures of 8 to 11 degrees and moderate to fresh southerly winds.