Ireland is in for a grim winter season according to predictions from the European Centre for Medium Range Weather Forecasts.
While thousands of households are worried about the impending price hikes for heating homes, the EU as a whole will likely experience a colder, drier and less windy early winter, according to forecasting models published by the EU’s meteorological agency.
Despite what the outlook says, EU experts are warning that predicting winter conditions are “notoriously difficult” in early October, but that things are not looking great.
READ MORE: Freak weather phenomenon could blast Ireland with snow and storms within weeks
It says at this point it looks as though a cold, still and dry snap will arrive for many countries in November and December - which would worsen the cost of living crisis.
This will be due to this year’s La Niña phenomenon – which is a powerful weather pattern influenced by cooler temperatures in the Pacific.
Carlo Buontempo, the ECMWF’s director of the Copernicus Climate Change Service, said: “La Niña tends to cause disruption to westerly winds, creating high pressure over Europe, which is what the models are showing for the beginning of winter.
“In these conditions, there is a chance of easterly winds leading to lower than usual temperatures. There is a higher than usual chance of having a cold outbreak at the beginning of winter.”
However, he said that more reliable data on what would influence winter conditions would only become available in three to four weeks’ time.
The forecast comes as the Cabinet approves plans to pay three electricity credits worth €200 to every household in Ireland over the next six months in order to cope with the rising costs of energy bills over the colder months.
One of the highlights of Budget 2023 was the announcement of a €600 electricity credit for households.
This will be paid over three bills, and it is expected that households will receive the €200 credits in November, January and March.
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