Met Eireann in Christmas weather u-turn amid snow update and 'anticyclonic gloom'

Met Éireann has updated and changed its prediction for Christmas week in its latest extended range weather forecast for Ireland.

Met Éireann initially said the forecast for the week starting on December 23 showed "a trend towards more settled weather" but their update on Tuesday says "wintry showers cannot be ruled out" over the festive period.

Their forecast for that week now reads: "A reasonably robust signal emerges with high pressure likely to be centred just to the southwest of Ireland. Temperatures are predicted to be slightly above normal overall although, with high pressure, there is a possibility of colder/frostier nights and lingering mist and fog during the days.

"Anticyclonic gloom – generally cloudy conditions – might also be a feature though. The orientation of the high pressure is such that a northwesterly or variable airflow might dominate which would mean greater amounts of precipitation in the northwest. Wintry showers cannot therefore be ruled out. Slightly wetter than normal conditions are predicted for the northwest with drier that normal conditions in the south and east. Impactful weather such as stormy conditions look less likely through this period," Met Éireann warned.

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For the first days of the New Year, forecasters at Met Éireann say "high pressure signal anchored to the west/southwest of the country is maintained into the start of the new year. Drier than normal conditions along with slightly above average temperatures are predicted. Much of the same conditions as week 2 [Christmas week] are likely to feature. Mist and fog, some colder and frostier nights where clear skies occur. Sunny spells but also the chance of stubborn low cloud. Impactful weather such as stormy conditions look less likely."

In the meantime, our weather will be "mostly dry through the period with high pressure nearby," although nights will be cold with "some frost and possibly some fog during the nights."

Met Éireann's forecast for Thursday says: "Any frost and any isolated mist and fog will clear in the morning to leave a largely dry and mostly cloudy day, with just limited sunny spells. A few patches of light rain or drizzle will occur, mainly in southern areas. Highest temperatures ranging from 3 degrees in the northwest to 7 or 8 degrees in the south and east, in light easterly breezes."

It continues: "A good deal of cloud expected along with some patchy rain and drizzle [on Friday], mainly for eastern and southern counties and then later in the northwest. Highest temperatures of 4 to 8 degrees generally in light variable breezes.

"Largely cloudy at first with light rain or drizzle in the northwest [Friday night], slowly sinking southeastwards while becoming patchier. Fog patches will develop again. Becoming clearer in the north and west towards morning. Lowest temperatures of -1 to +3 degrees with light northwesterly winds developing.

"Mostly dry with spells of sunshine and just well scattered showers [on Saturday], mainly near northern and western coasts. Through the afternoon and evening, cloud will build from the northwest. Highest temperatures of 4 to 8 degrees in light westerly breezes."

The forecast concludes with this prediction for Sunday and next week: "Mostly cloudy with a few patches of light rain and drizzle, mainly for northern and western counties. Highest temperatures of 9 to 12 degrees with moderate westerly winds developing, fresh at times in the west and northwest.

"Some uncertainty at this stage but indications are that the early days of next week will be mostly cloudy with some rain and showers but still a good deal of dry weather. Temperatures generally reaching between 8 and 11 degrees."