WATCH: Heavy snow hits Laois #sneachta

Commuters and people on school runs face a hazardous Wednesday as heavy snow fell across Laois on Tuesday night.

Heavy snow was falling in Portlaoise around midnight soon after Met Eireann added Laois to the list of counties under a Status Yellow snow ice warning.

The forecaster added Laois to the list at 11.28 pm on Tuesday night as heavy snow that had already been falling in other parts of the county and midlands hit Portlaoise.

The alert warns of scattered sleet and snow showers with some accumulations possible with icy stretches likely.

The warning is valid until 9am Tuesday though a quick thaw on Wednesday is not in the forecast meaning the impact is still likely to be felt through the day.

In its forecast Met Eireann said Tuesday night would be very cold with frost and icy stretches in many areas, leading to hazardous conditions. It said showers of rain, sleet and snow would continue, most frequent in the north, west and midlands. Isolated thunderstorms were also forecasted, with a chance of hail in coastal regions. Lowest temperatures of -3 to +1 degrees, locally lower across the north midlands, in a light to moderate west to northwest wind.

It said Wednesday would be cold with lying snow in some places. There will be sunny spells and scattered showers of rain, sleet and snow, most frequent in the north and west. By evening, the showers will be isolated and mainly in Ulster. Highest temperatures of 2 to 5 degrees in a moderate to fresh west to northwest wind.

Met Eireann says the national outlook is for the weather to remain chilly with occasional wintry showers, although temperatures are expected to increase by the weekend.