The Met Office has issued a weather warning for this evening and overnight.
Heavy rain is expected to set in and continue while snow is likely to accumulate on higher ground.
The warning is valid from 5pm today until 8am tomorrow.
It reads: ‘An area of persistent rain will move from the west towards dusk, becoming heavy at times and increasingly turning to sleet or snow, mainly over higher ground above 700ft, but perhaps to lower levels at times in any heavier bursts. This is likely to cause some drifting over higher ground as well as icing on overhead conductors.
‘The rain, sleet and snow will become lighter and patchier later in the night before gradually clearing from around dawn on Friday.
‘Rainfall accumulations throughout the period are currently expected to be between 15 and 20mm quite widely across the island but with 20 to 30mm possible over the hills. This could lead to some moderate accumulations of snow over the hills, with slight, temporary and slushy accumulations possible at lower levels. There remains some uncertainty regarding how readily the rain will turn to sleet or snow and therefore exact accumulations.’
Plans are being put into action by the Department of Infrastructure to keep the main arterial routes open to traffic.
Police are warning motorists to drive to the conditions, take care on the roads and leave extra time for journeys.