Met Eireann has pinpointed the arrival of snow once again - likely in small amounts - as their detailed Christmas forecast has been revealed.
Although it won’t be a ‘White Christmas’ this year, the monthly forecast suggests that “wintery conditions” can be ruled out in the week that runs to December 29.
It states: “In week one, with low pressure ever present but generally weak and in a generally northeast flow it will be colder than average. It will also be slightly wetter than average in the east and drier than average in the west.
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“Overall potential for hazards is not large but with the colder than average temperatures and the northeast flow, some wintery conditions cannot be ruled out along with some very cold nights again.”
As for the rest of this week, leading to Christmas Day, this morning will feature scattered outbreaks of rain and drizzle, as well as some patchy mist and fog. This rain will slowly clear to the east through the morning, leaving a mostly dry day with a few sunny spells.
However, there will be occasional showers in the north and northwest and some fog patches may linger over Ulster. Highest temperatures of 6 to 9 degrees are expected.
It will be a largely dry start tonight with isolated showers and areas of fog developing, becoming dense in some spots. It will turn cloudier overnight with rain pushing into Munster, reaching much of Connacht and Leinster by morning.
The fog will clear from these areas as the rain spreads with lowest temperatures of -1 to +4 degrees arriving in - coldest before the rain develops with the chance of some frost patches.
Friday morning will then see fog lingering in some northern areas as outbreaks of rain slowly spread further northwards through the day - turning heavy at times.
Scattered showers and sunny spells will follow from the southwest later, though rain may linger in Ulster until after nightfall.
Highest temperatures of 7 to 11 degrees generally, but cooler in the north with highs of 5 to 7 degrees. Moderate easterly winds will gradually veer westerly
Saturday, Christmas Eve will bring a mix of sunny spells and scattered showers, possibly turning heavy at times near western and southern coasts.
Highest temperatures of 7 to 10 degrees are due in moderate to fresh southerly winds.
The forecast for Sunday, Christmas Day, suggests that Christmas morning will be dry and bright for many eastern and southern areas but showery outbreaks of rain will move into the west and north.
This rain will gradually make its way southeastwards across the country through the day.
Monday, St. Stephen's Day, will be a colder and brighter day with scattered showers mainly in western and northern coastal counties. These showers may turn to sleet in some spots. Highest temperatures of 3 to 7 degrees.
Beyond this point, the forecaster says: “There is still uncertainty in the further outlook but early indications point towards the return of milder air from Tuesday onwards. Staying unsettled with rain and showers feeding in from the Atlantic.”
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