A calm winter's day on Mullagh Lake. Photo: Roisin Smyth

Wet, not white, Christmas on the cards

Weather Update

Low pressure will dominate our weather in the lead up to Christmas, bringing wet and breezy spells. Turning milder for a time also.

That's according to the latest bulletin from Met Éireann.

Today will be dull and cloudy but dry for most with just a few patches of drizzle and occasional brighter spells. Highest temperatures of 4 to 9 degrees, coolest in Ulster, in moderate southeasterly winds.

Cloudy but largely dry to start again tonight. However, rain will spread across Connacht, Munster and parts of Leinster overnight, turning heavy in the southwest by morning. Lowest temperatures of 3 to 7 degrees, coldest over Ulster and north Leinster, in moderate to fresh southeast winds.

Rain will become widespread tomorrow morning, turning heavy at times in the south and southwest. The rain will clear northeastwards through the afternoon, with brief drier intervals developing in between lingering patches of drizzle. Further outbreaks of rain will push into the southwest in the evening. Feeling slightly milder with highest temperatures of 7 degrees in the north to 12 degrees in the south in moderate to fresh south to southeast winds.

Wednesday night is forecast to be a cloudy and wet night with outbreaks of rain spreading across the country from the southwest again, turning heavy at times. A clearance will move into the southwest by morning. Lowest temperatures of 6 to 9 degrees, becoming milder overnight as the rain spreads. Moderate to fresh southerly winds.

Rain will clear to the north through Thursday morning, leaving a bright and dry day for most with sunny spells and scattered showers. Relatively mild with highest temperatures of 9 to 11 degrees in moderate southwesterly winds.

Turning cloudy again on Thursday night with outbreaks of rain gradually spreading from the southwest. Lowest temperatures of 5 to 9 degrees in moderate to fresh southeasterly winds.

A wet start in many areas on Christmas Eve (Friday) with continued outbreaks of rain. That rain will clear to the north through the day with some drier spells developing, though scattered patches of light rain and drizzle will linger. Highest temperatures of 9 to 11 degrees in light to moderate southeasterly winds.

There remains some uncertainty in the forecast for Christmas weekend. Current indications suggest that more rain will spread across the country from the southwest on Friday night. However, with Rudolph's help, Santa will have no problem making his way through the rain.

Christmas Day looks likely to be cloudy with spells of rain continuing for most and highest temperatures of 7 to 10 degrees.

Further outlook: Remaining generally unsettled into the final week of 2021 with further spells of rain and some breezy days too. Temperatures turning slightly cooler again.