The Road Safety Authority (RSA) is advising drivers to be aware of the dangers posed by hailstones. The advice comes as Met Éireann has forecast wintery showers of hail over the coming days and into the weekend.

According to the RSA, hail is a common but unpredictable occurrence in Ireland and can lead to slippery and dangerous driving conditions.

This is especially true on higher speed roads like dual carriageways or motorways.

The RSA has said that the difficulty with hail showers is their unpredictability and localised nature. As a hail shower tracks across the country it deposits a narrow band of ball bearing sized hailstones on the ground.

Where the track of a shower crosses a road, drivers may suddenly pass from perfectly good road conditions onto a carpet of hailstones. This has the potential to catch drivers out if they do not immediately react to the hazardous driving conditions.

The RSA has the following practical advice for drivers:

Drivers are also advised to make sure their tyres are fit for purpose i.e., that they are not below the legal minimum tread depth (1.6mm) and that they are inflated to the correct pressure, so they can cope better with such challenging driving conditions.

The RSA added that checking forecasts and listening to travel bulletins before and during your journey will alert you of any possible hail showers.

Met Éireann has said that it will turncold and blustery tonight (Tuesday, November 30) with a mix of clear spells and showers, some heavy with a risk of hail, especially in the west and northwest.

Lowest temperatures of 4° to 7° with fresh, occasionally strong and gusty northwest winds.

Windy tomorrow, Wednesday, and feeling much colder, with sunny spells and scattered blustery showers, some heavy with a risk of hail.

Afternoon temperatures will reach just 5° to 8°, and it will feel colder in the fresh to strong and gusty northwesterly winds.

Sunny spells will clear any frost early on Thursday but cloud will increase later in the morning with patchy rain developing during the afternoon, becoming persistent by evening and the rain showers will continue for much of Thursday and into Friday.