Temperatures are set to fall below freezing tonight, with frost developing across parts of the country as a spell of largely dry and settled weather continues.

Met Éireann is forecasting a cold night with clear spells and lowest temperatures of between -1 and 3 degrees in light to moderate northerly winds.

There is a chance of isolated patches of drizzle over the northern half of the country and along eastern coasts.

Thursday will bring a cool but largely dry day, with sunshine for most areas after any early frost clears.

Isolated showers are possible in northern and northwestern areas, with highest temperatures of 6 to 10 degrees in a light to moderate northerly breeze.

Frost before weekend change

The settled conditions will continue into Friday, although temperatures will remain relatively low.

Friday will be largely dry with plenty of sunshine, but cloudier conditions are expected across parts of Ulster and Connacht, where isolated showers are possible.

Cloud will gradually build from the southwest later in the day, with some further showers possible.

Highest temperatures will range from 6 to 9 degrees in light variable breezes.

Friday night will see increasing cloud, bringing outbreaks of rain and drizzle, mainly along western coastal areas.

Temperatures will fall to between -1 and 4 degrees, with the mildest conditions in the southwest.

Wetter weekend ahead

A change to more unsettled weather is expected over the weekend, with rain spreading across the country.

Saturday will be mostly cloudy, with limited sunny spells and outbreaks of rain moving in from the south and west.

Many areas should remain dry for much of the day, although more persistent rain is possible in western and northwestern counties.

It will be milder, with afternoon temperatures of 9 to 12 degrees in moderate southerly winds.

Sunday is expected to be rather wet, with rain spreading from the west and northwest and possibly becoming heavy at times.

Temperatures will range from 6 to 9 degrees across the northern half of the country, while southern areas could reach 9 to 12 degrees.

Further outbreaks of rain are expected on Monday, with current forecasts indicating a cold start followed by rain spreading from the west.

The outlook for next week is for further unsettled conditions, with spells of wet and breezy weather.