Met Eireann’s latest forecast predicts the arrival of an unusual weather phenomenon, ‘thundersnow,’ this week as grim conditions return in a matter of days.
‘Thundersnow’ is not meteorologically different from thunder in the summer, but instead of 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 states: “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”.
READ MORE: Ireland braced for rare ‘thundersnow’ amid winter storm fears as Met Eireann forecast new cold blast
The forecasters have also predicted the arrival of a potential storm this week, on Wednesday and Thursday.
Although things could change over the coming days, weather experts are sounding the alarm over the emergence of a possible pattern that could bring a storm.
Expert Irish forecaster, Alan O’Reilly, has been sharing updates on his Carlow Weather Twitter, and on Monday posted: “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 run-up to this stormy bout of weather, Met Eireann says it will remain unsettled for the week with wet, blustery, and cold conditions at times.
Giving its forecast for Tuesday, it said: “Wet and quite windy this morning with fresh southwest winds, strong in the south and southeast. Rain will clear western areas this morning with scattered showers and some bright spells following.
“Rain will clear most areas during the afternoon, but will linger in the southeast until later this afternoon. Winds will ease and become westerly as rain clears. Highest temperatures of 7 to 11 degrees”.
As night time approaches then it will be “dry at first tonight with a few showers, mainly in the northwest, and clear spells. A spell of rain will move in from the southwest overnight and spread across most of the country, reaching the north tomorrow morning.
“Light or moderate southerly winds. Lowest temperatures of 2 to 5 degrees, but becoming much milder in the south by morning as winds freshen”.
On Wednesday, experts at Met Eireann expect: “Another wet morning tomorrow. Rain will clear northwards by around midday however widespread showers will follow, prolonged and heavy in places.
“Southwest winds will increase fresh to strong and gusty with very strong gusts possible along Atlantic coasts later in the day. Highest temperatures of 8 to 11 degrees”.
As for the rest of the week, Thursday will be a “breezy and showery day with the odd sleet shower possible in the north. Occasional bright spells too. Fresh southwest winds will likely ease during the afternoon. Afternoon highs of 5 to 8 degrees”.
It’s then due to become windy again on Thursday night, as strong southerly winds develop along with rain which may be heavy in places. “Lowest temperatures of 0 to 5 degrees, coldest in the north early in the night with temperatures rising overnight”.
Forecaster say the outlook for Friday remaining “uncertain in the details but indications show it will be windy for a time with fresh to strong southwest winds, easing later in the day. There will likely be showers or longer spells of rain. Afternoon highs of 6 to 9 degrees”,Its forecast for Tuesday
For more information on this week’s forecasts, and any active weather warnings, visit: www.met.ie/forecasts/national-forecast
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