The countdown to Christmas is on and there is now a clearer picture of what weather to expect.
Despite long-range forecasts previously predicting a potential white Christmas, it looks like Ireland can expect a wash out.
Met Eireann has updated its Christmas weather, forecasting unusually mild conditions with plenty of rain.
But there’s set to be a big change in the final days of 2021 as things turn “rather unsettled”.
Friday, Christmas Eve, will start cloudy with some lingering fog. Rain in the southwest will move across the country, reaching Ulster in the afternoon. It’s due to clear and become bright in the south later in central areas.
Met Eireann says it’ll be breezy, with strong winds at times, and temperatures of 8C to 11C.
The rain is expected to return overnight, with some heavy falls in places and lowest temperatures of 4C to 8C.
There will be a wet, cloudy and breezy start to Saturday, Christmas Day, with widespread outbreaks of showery rain that will be heavy at times with a risk of spot flooding, according to Met Eireann.
But the good news is it should clear to brighter conditions with scattered showers early in the afternoon.
Temperatures will remain mild at 7C to 11C.
Christmas night will see a mix of clear spells and scattered showers, with temperatures of 3C to 7C.
Met Eireann says that Sunday, St Stephen’s Day, will see a mix of cloud and sunny spells with scattered showers. Temperatures of 7C to 10C during the day, but dropping as low as -1C overnight with frost and some fog forming.
Looking ahead to the final days of this year, Met Eireann said: “The last few days of 2021 will remain rather unsettled with spells of rain and breezy conditions at times.
“It will continue to be mild for the time of year with temperatures likely increasing slightly on previous days.”
