The leading meteorologist also warned that we are in for some ‘awful’ weather next week, but said that “better days ahead”
A walker in the snow in Slade Valley(Image: Brian Lawless/PA Wire)
A leading weather expert has revealed the chance of Ireland enjoying a White Christmas this year.
White Christmases are rare in Ireland. The last genuine white Christmas in Ireland was back in 2010 when the entire island was covered in a blanket of snow.
But while the weather has taken a turn this weekend, with temperatures plummeting and wet and windy conditions lashing the country, those dreaming of a White Christmas this year look set for disappointment. Alan O’Reilly from Carlow Weather has revealed that current weather models show that Ireland is set for a spell of settled weather at Christmas, with a spell of high-pressure set to lead to clear skies.
In a post shared with his followers on Saturday, O’Reilly wrote: “Clear signal now for higher pressure and more settled weather for Christmas.” O’Reilly also warned his followers that Sunday is set to be “an awful day” in terms of the weather, with warnings in place for a number of counties.
The leading meteorologist said that we can expect “more rain Wednesday and Thursday”, but added that “better days ahead”. According to Met Eireann’s latest forecast, today will be mostly cloudy and breezy, with some drizzly outbreaks throughout the afternoon.
Temperatures will get up to 13C with southwesterly winds increasing fresh to strong and gusty at times. The rain will grow more persistent this evening, with spot flooding a possibility.
It will clear up as the night goes on however, with lowest temperatures of 6C. And here is what the forecast says for next week:
Overview: Some respite to start the week, but turning more unsettled again on Tuesday night.
Monday: Mainly dry Monday, with just the chance of an odd shower. Rather cloudy overall, but it may brighten up from the west before nightfall. Afternoon highs of 7 to 9 degrees in mainly light westerly or variable breezes.
Monday night: Mostly dry with long clear breaks developing countrywide. A few showers will affect Atlantic coastal counties overnight, however. A chilly night with lowest temperatures of 0 to 4 degrees with a touch of frost possible. Light southerly or variable breezes will allow a few mist and fog patches to form also.
Tuesday: Tuesday will be a mainly dry and sunny day after a cool, crisp start. Isolated showers will be confined to western and northwestern coasts. Highest temperatures will range 6 to 10 degrees in light to moderate southwest breezes, fresher near the northwest coast. Mainly dry and clear at first on Tuesday night with just isolated showers in the northwest. Cloud will thicken from the west with outbreaks of rain and drizzle spreading eastwards over the country overnight. Turning cold in the east soon after dark with lowest temperatures of 1 to 4 degrees occurring early on. Becoming milder as the night goes on though, as winds back southerly and increase fresh to strong and gusty, with gales developing along some western, northern and eastern coasts by morning.
Wednesday: Wet and blustery to begin on Wednesday with widespread outbreaks of rain and drizzle in fresh to strong southerly winds. A clearance will develop in the west by the afternoon, with drier, clearer and calmer conditions gradually spreading eastwards through the rest of the day. Afternoon highs of 9 to 13 degrees with winds veering light to moderate southwest with the clearance of the cloud and rain.
Thursday: Uncertainty in the details for Thursday at present, but current indications suggest another spell of rain may move up from the south and affect eastern and southern parts of the country to start the day. The rain looks set to clear eastwards, allowing scattered showers to spread from the Atlantic, some them heavy with hail and isolated thunderstorms possible. Highest temperatures of 7 to 11 degrees in moderate southwesterly winds.
Friday and next weekend: Confidence in the forecast is a little lower than usual for the lead time. A zonal Atlantic regime looks set to persist at first, but there are tentative signs that more settled conditions may develop by the end of the weekend.
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