Met Eireann has forecast strong wind and rain this week, issuing two status yellow warnings for a number of counties.
Although grim conditions are expected, the Irish meteorologists expect a u-turn in conditions just in time for Christmas Day after publishing a first glance at the festive weather.
A status yellow wind warning is in place for Galway, Mayo until 6:00 am on Wednesday, with a second wind warning coming into effect at midnight on Wednesday for Donegal, Leitrim and Sligo.
Today will be a windy day with sunny spells and showers in most areas, many of them heavy with the possibility of hail.
READ MORE: Met Eireann issue two new Status Yellow wind warnings for five counties
Coastal regions of east Leinster and south Munster will be mainly dry, but southwest winds will be fresh to strong and gusty with gales on Atlantic coasts and highest temperatures will range from 6 to 9 degrees.
On Wednesday, showers will continue over Ulster and north Connacht, but it will be mainly dry further south with bright or sunny spells.
Towards the evening time, the rain will develop in the southwest and move up over Munster with highest temperatures of 7 to 9 degrees expected.
Thursday morning will be mainly dry with just a few showers in the north, however, through the afternoon and evening, outbreaks of rain will develop in Munster and south Leinster.
Highest temperatures of 6 to 9 degrees are expected with mostly light breezes. However, Thursday night will bring cold and mainly dry weather over the northern half of the country with frost, fog and temperatures of just 0 to 2 degrees returning.
On Friday morning, rain will spread northwards and will persist over the northern half of the country in the afternoon and evening.
It will be heavy at times and may fall as sleet on high ground in Ulster, but brighter weather with showers will follow over the southern half of the country.
Highest temperatures will reach 5 degrees in Ulster and 9 degrees further south with moderate to fresh southerly winds.
The outlook for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day remains relatively uncertain, but it looks to be much more pleasant than the days prior to it.
At the moment, it looks like Christmas Eve will bring a mix of bright or sunny spells and some showers with highest temperatures of 9 degrees and moderate to fresh southwest winds.
Christmas Day will likely being cool but bright with a mix of sunshine and light showers with moderate westerly winds and highest temperatures of 6 to 9 degrees.
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