Met Eireann has warned that Ireland’s Christmas cold snap could bring a rare rare phenomenon.
Met Eireann has forecast freezing fog(Image: SWNS.com)
Freezing weather continues to grip Ireland this Christmas Day, with Met Eireann warning that the cold snap shows no sign of easing throughout the festive period.
The national forecaster says the chilly weather will stretch right through Christmas and into the new year, with bitter overnight temperatures, widespread frost and the potential for a rare weather phenomenon to develop in the days ahead.
Today, many people are waking up to a crisp, frosty start after overnight temperatures dipped below freezing. Conditions expected to remain cold for the rest of the day.
Giving its Christmas Day outlook, Ireland’s weather service said: “A frosty start to Christmas Day across much of the country, with some icy stretches. Today will be cold and dry with sunny spells for most but it may be cloudier at times near eastern and southern coasts. Highest temperatures of 4C to 7C with mainly light to moderate east to northeast winds, fresher along eastern and southern coasts.
“Christmas night will be cold, dry and mostly clear, although some cloud is possible near eastern and southern coasts and there’ll be patches of mist and fog. Lowest temperatures of -3C to 2C generally, with frost and ice forming on untreated surfaces, but less cold near the east coast with lowest temperatures of 3C to 6C . East to northeast winds will be mainly light to moderate.”
Looking ahead to St Stephen’s Day, the cold snap continues, with more dry and bright – but cold – weather on the cards for many. The forecast continues: “St Stephen’s Day, will be dry and sunny in most areas. It will be cloudier near the south coast and at times near the east coast. Cold, with highest temperatures of 4C to 8C and mainly light to moderate east to northeast winds, fresh near the east and south coast.
“St Stephen’s night will be dry and cold with variable cloud. Lowest temperatures of -1C to 4C generally, but again, less cold near the east coast. Winds will be light to moderate northeasterly, fresher in eastern and southern coastal parts.”
However, Met Eireann has also warned that the ongoing cold spell could unleash a rare weather phenomenon. The current combination of high pressure, calm winds and sub zero temperatures could allow patches of freezing fog to form.
Freezing fog is considered relatively rare in Ireland, as it only forms when very specific atmospheric conditions are met. The fog is made up of supercooled water droplets, meaning the moisture remains liquid even when temperatures fall below freezing – creating particularly hazardous conditions on roads.
It has forecast “patches of mist and fog or freezing fog” for Sunday night, and added for the final days of this year: “High pressure looks set to remain in the lead up to the New Year, meaning settled weather but also the likelihood of widespread frost, fog and freezing fog, which could be slow to clear by day.”
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