‘Thundersnow’ could hit parts of Ireland this week as a fresh blast of wintry weather moves in.
While 2022 did not bring a White Christmas, snow did fall in some areas on St Stephen’s Day.
Met Eireann has issued a stormy and wintry forecast for the coming days, saying sleet, hail, ice, freezing temperatures, frost, gusty winds, heavy rain, snow and thunder are all possible.
READ MORE: Ireland drink drive calculator: How long to wait after beer, wine, gin, prosecco on St Stephen's Day
This means that Ireland could be in for a rare outbreak of ‘thundersnow’ which happens when thunderstorms - which are more common in summer months - form in wintry conditions.
When the weather is cold, the rain associated with a thunderstorm can fall as snow and therefore is called ‘thundersnow’.
‘Thundersnow’ is not meteorologically different to thunder in the summer, but rather than hail or rain, there is snow which can affect the acoustics of the thunder.
Met Eireann has pinpointed Thursday as the day Ireland could see ‘thundersnow’. Its forecast for December 29 reads: “Thursday will be a fresh and blustery day with sunshine and showers, some falling as sleet and snow on hills and with thunder at times, the showers will be most frequent in western and northern coastal counties. Highest temperatures of 5C to 8C in fresh to strong and gusty southwest to west winds.”
Meanwhile, some long-range weather maps say a storm could hit Wednesday into Thursday.
Although it is still very early days, weather experts are sounding alarm bells about the emergence of a possible pattern that could threaten a storm.
Independent Irish forecaster Alan O’Reilly has been sharing updates with followers of his Carlow Weather social media pages.
He said today: “Still uncertainty around the track and development of possible storm Wednesday into Thursday. Four different weather models shown here and you can see the big differences. Keep an eye on forecasts though as potential for a few storms this week.”
In the meantime, Met Eireann says it will remain unsettled for the coming week with wet, blustery and cold conditions at times.
Giving its forecast for tonight, it said: “Cold and frosty early tonight with temperatures falling to between -1C and 4C. Becoming wetter and breezier overnight with temperatures increasing as cloud and rain spreads from the west. Southerly winds will increase fresh to strong and gusty.”
Looking ahead to tomorrow, the national forecaster continued: “A wet and windy start Tuesday. The rain will clear the west in the morning with scattered showers following. The rain will be slower to clear the east and south with most places dry by the late afternoon. Southwest winds will be fresh to strong and gusty, especially in the south and southeast during the morning, but will ease and veer westerly as the rain clears. Highest temperatures of 7C to 11C.
“Mostly dry Tuesday night. Lowest temperatures of 2C to 5C. Another spell of rain will arrive from the south before Wednesday morning and it will become windy.”
Its forecast for Wednesday reads: “A wet and windy day is forecast for Wednesday with the rain accompanied by fresh to strong southwest to west winds. Afternoon temperatures ranging from 7C to 10C. The rain will clear to frequent showers in the afternoon and early evening, becoming confined to western and northern coasts later.
“Staying windy on Wednesday night with frequent showers or longer spells of rain affecting western and northern coastal areas. Lowest temperatures of 2C to 5C.”
For the remainder of the week, Met Eireann said: “Thursday will be a fresh and blustery day with sunshine and showers, some falling as sleet and snow on hills and with thunder at times, the showers will be most frequent in western and northern coastal counties. Highest temperatures of 5C to 8C in fresh to strong and gusty southwest to west winds.
“Currently it looks like Thursday night will see widespread rain across the country and the wet and windy theme continues for Friday and for next weekend with more rain or heavy showers and westerly winds.”
READ NEXT :
Hezbollah terror group 'hands over man suspected of killing Irish soldier Sean Rooney'
St Stephen's Day opening hours for Tesco, Aldi, Lidl, SuperValu and Dunnes Stores
Jim Sheridan to make new documentary on murder of Sophie Toscan du Plantier
Family of boy attacked by dog tell how he "cried a lot" when he saw himself for the first time
Get breaking news to your inbox by signing up to our newsletter
