Holly O’Neill said that, while the national forecaster cannot be certain, a snowy December 25 is unlikely this year
Snow in Dublin (stock)(Image: Shay Murphy/Getty Images)
A Met Eireann meteorologist has said there is “going to be no white Christmas for now”.
Speaking to Dublin Live, Holly O’Neill said that, while the national forecaster cannot be certain, a snowy December 25 is unlikely this year. She said: “Right now, it’s very uncertain, but I don’t think it is likely.
“Things can change, as we know, very quickly. But as it stands, there’s going to be no white Christmas for now.”
Ms O’Neill warned travellers in the worst affected areas of Ireland to “be mindful” tomorrow, as the worst of Storm Bram’s winds are set to hit during “peak travel time”. The national forecaster named Storm Bram earlier this morning, and it will bring very strong to gale force winds and heavy rain.
11 counties have now been issued an Orange wind warning for Tuesday, while a nationwide Yellow wind warning will also be in place. Cork, Kerry, Waterford and Wexford will be under the Orange alert from 7am until 3pm on Tuesday.
The Orange warning for Clare, Limerick, Donegal, Galway, Leitrim, Mayo and Sligo will kick in at 10am on Tuesday and remain in place until 6pm. The nationwide Yellow wind warning will last for 18 hours – from 3am on Tuesday until 9pm.
And a Status Yellow rain alert for Carlow, Kilkenny, Wexford, Cork, Kerry, Tipperary and Waterford will hit at 9pm tonight and remain until 9am tomorrow. Ms O’Neill warned that it will be a wet and windy day across the country – but that southern counties look set to be worst hit.
She told Dublin Live: “It’s going to be an impactful event, and as you know, these impacts can vary on where you are located across the country. The southern counties are going to experience very heavy and thundery rain at times, but in saying that it’s still going to be a wet day across the country as that band of rain moves northwards.
“With regards to the winds, again, it’s likely that we’ll see the most impacts on southern and western coastal fringes. That low pressure will track to the west of us from tomorrow morning and through tomorrow.”
Ms O’Neill asked people travelling tomorrow morning to “be mindful” as the worst winds are set to hit during rush hour traffic, while some spot flooding is also expected. She said: “This is also coinciding with a period of high tide, so it’s likely that we will see coastal flooding in any exposed, low lying areas.
“It’s likely that we’ll also see some surface flooding at times. And then with the winds as well, it is going to be gusty across the country, so at the time of year that we have with Christmas decorations up outside the houses, we’re just asking people to be mindful.
“And as well, with this, it’s coming in at peak travel time, so people are going to be heading to work, dropping their kids to school. We’re asking people just be mindful, maybe slow down and just be aware of what’s going on.”
Thankfully, Ms O’Neill said it is “unlikely” that we will have any more storms this year after Bram. She said: “It’s just the time of year that we are in.
“It’s just an unsettled regime. We’re having these low systems coming off of the Atlantic. But as of right now, as it stands, our main concern is just Storm Bram.”
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