Temperatures are set to plummet ahead of December 25, raising hopes that Ireland could be set to the the first genuine white Christmas in since 2010
The current weather models suggest that it will be bitterly cold on Christmas Day
There’s a possibility that Ireland could be enjoying a White Christma this years as temperatures are set to plummet as we head towards December 25.
White Christmases are rare in Ireland – the last genuine white Christmas in Ireland was 15 years in 2010 when the entire island was covered in a blanket of snow.
Alan O’Reilly, the hobbyist meteorologist who runs the popular Carlow Weather social media pages, has raised hopes that we could see snow on Christmas Day as he revealed that the current weather models show a huge drop in temperatures next week.
O’Reilly revealed that it will be unseasonably warm in many areas today, but there will be a ‘big change’ in the conditions over the coming days as the thermometer plummets.
In a message shared on X / Twitter, O’Reilly said: “Most of Europe is warmer than average today but by Christmas Day many areas will be cooler than average as we see a big change in our weather patterns that will finally give us a break from the wind and rain here.”
It will be bitterly cold on Christmas Day, although it seems the chance of snowfall remains unlikely(Image: Stephen Collins/Collins Photos)
O’Reilly said that while there is “still uncertainty” around how cold it will be on Christmas Day, “the good news is the high pressure will keep it dry and settled either way”.
While Met Eireann’s forecast shows what we are in for a bitterly cold Christmas, the national forecaster has predicted that there will be plenty of frost and ice on December 24 rather than snow.
According to Met Eireann, “Christmas Eve and Christmas Day will be rather cold and dry with crisp winter sunshine. Frost and ice will form in places to begin and end each day.
“Coastal showers will move up along the East coast, but will be isolated, in light to moderate east to northeast breezes.”
In terms of how the weather is shaping up this weekend, Met Eireann has said it will become breezy or blustery from the southwest this morning with outbreaks of rain, heavy at times, extending northeastwards over the country today.
There will be fresh to strong and gusty south to southeast winds, with gales on coasts, initially in the west and southwest will develop elsewhere by this afternoon.
Rain will clear from the west and southwest this afternoon, with scattered showers and light winds following there but the rain will persist further east and north with spot flooding possible in the southeast. It will be a mild day with highest temperatures 7C to 10C.
Breezy conditions will continue this evening with outbreaks of rain and drizzle across part of the midlands, east and north at first tonight with clear breaks and scattered showers elsewhere.
The rain will gradually ease and become patchy overnight and the showers may turn wintry over hills in parts of the west and southwest. Lowest temperatures of -1C to 6C, coldest in Munster where skies will be clearest.
Winds will be mainly light southeast or variable across Munster and Connacht, but fresh to strong and gusty southeast at first elsewhere, before gradually easing overnight.
Met Eireann has warned that it will be chilly start for some on Sunday, with variable cloud and sunny spells and just well scattered showers to begin. Some longer spells of rain will spread up from the southeast in the afternoon and extend northwestwards.
Afternoon highs of 5C to 9C in light easterly or variable breezes.
It will be dry for most tomorrow night with spells of rain over Leinster gradually easing overnight as it clears northwestwards over parts of Munster and Connacht.
Lowest temperatures of 3C to 8C for Ulster, Leinster and most of Connacht; -2C to 2C for Munster and south Connacht, in light or variable easterly winds. Mist and fog patches are possible with the chance of frost and ice forming in places under clear skies too.
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