Ireland is to experience significant snowfall over the coming days, with a number of weather warnings in place for around the country.
Here is what we know so far as regards weather, public transport and essential services:
Met Éireann has issued two separate Status Red snow-ice alerts for the country.
The public have been advised to stay indoors from 4pm tomorrow until 3pm tomorrow. At a news conference, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said we are facing extremely hazardous conditions tomorrow with exceptional blizzards likely.
All schools, colleges and third-level institutions are closed for today and tomorrow in Munster and Leinster.
Bus Éireann services are cancelled for Munster and Leinster for today. Services in the rest of the country will operate where conditions allow it.
Motorists are advised not to travel in areas affect by the status red warnings. If travel is unavoidable, stick to main roads as these are more likely to be gritted. Allow extra time and slow down accordingly. Helpful tips for driving in snow are available here.
In Dublin, Dublin Bus services will not be operating today or tomorrow.
Luas services were suspended at midday. There will be no Luas service tomorrow.
Iarnród Éireann services are closing down this afternoon and will not run tomorrow.
Virtually all flights from Dublin Airport will stop at 4pm. Aer Lingus will have no flights from Dublin until Saturday morning.
Cork Airport is closed. Aer Lingus and Ryanair will also not operate from Cork Airport tomorrow, but both expect to resume a normal schedule on Saturday.
Social welfare payments which were due to be paid tomorrow will be made available from today.
Fuel allowance for the week has been doubled.
All court sittings in red alert counties have been cancelled for the remainder of the week.
Many of the major supermarkets are closed or will only open on a limited basis today in the red alert counties. Lidl stores close from 3pm today until 1pm tomorrow, Tesco stores from 2pm today to 1pm tomorrow, and all Dunnes Stores shops countrywide will close at 3pm today and open at 1pm tomorrow.
Admissions and outpatient appointments at the three children's hospitals in Dublin have been postponed for today and tomorrow.
Dublin Midlands Hospital Group has cancelled routine electives and outpatient appointments for the next two days.
St Vincent's University Hospital and St Vincent's Private Hospital have cancelled a number of planned operations and clinics.
Post Offices will re-open on Saturday.
