National Forecast

Issued at: 22 December 2024 06:30

TODAY - Sunday 22nd December

Windy and cold today with widespread showers for a time, falling mainly as rain or hail, but with some sleet and snow possible this morning, mainly in the north and over hills and mountains. There'll be a few isolated thunderstorms too. The showers will gradually become more confined to the west and north through the afternoon and become less widespread, with more in the way of bright or sunny spells. Highest temperatures of 5 to 8 degrees in strong and gusty westerly winds, veering northwesterly, reaching gale force in some coastal parts and strong gale force for a time in western and northern coastal parts. The winds will gradually start to moderate from the west through the afternoon and evening.

TONIGHT

The showers will become isolated early tonight, so it'll become mainly dry with good clear spells for a time. The winds will gradually ease too, becoming light to moderate and backing west to southwesterly. Cloud will gradually increase from the west though, with some rain and drizzle moving in across the western half of the country later in the night. Lowest temperatures of 1 to 4 degrees, generally, with perhaps a touch of frost in some parts of the midlands and east for a time, but less cold further west, with temperatures there falling no lower than 4 to 7 degrees.

TOMORROW - Monday 23rd December

Tomorrow, Monday, will be a cloudy day with scattered outbreaks of rain and drizzle spreading eastwards through the morning and with more for the afternoon and evening. There'll be mist and some hill and coastal fog too. Becoming milder from the west through the day with highest afternoon temperatures of 10 to 12 degrees generally, a little lower until evening time further east. Winds will be mostly light and mainly southerly at first, veering westerly and becoming mostly moderate, fresh in some western coastal areas.

National Outlook

It'll be relatively mild for Christmas week and with high pressure dominating there'll be a lot of dry weather overall, with just a little rain and drizzle at times.

Cloudy and misty on Monday night with some scattered patches of light rain and drizzle at times as well as some hill and coastal fog. Temperatures won't fall below 8 to 11 degrees in mostly moderate westerly winds, backing southwesterly, becoming a little fresher in northwestern coastal parts.

Tuesday, Christmas Eve, will continue mostly cloudy, but it'll be dry apart from a little patchy light rain and drizzle here and there. There'll be some mist and hill and coastal fog too for a time. Highest temperatures of 11 to 13 degrees in mostly moderate southwest winds, a little fresher in coastal parts of the northwest.

Tuesday night, Christmas Eve night, will bring very favourable condition for Santa's visit around Ireland. It'll be mostly cloudy, but it'll be mainly dry. There'll just be a few patches of drizzle and some mist here and there. Temperatures will only fall below 8 to 11 degrees in mostly moderate southerly winds, fresh to strong in some coastal parts of the west and northwest.

Wednesday, Christmas Day, is going to be a mild and a mainly dry day with just a few patches of drizzle around. While there's probably going to be a good lot of cloud, it's likely to become a little brighter in some places, with some sunny spells. Unseasonably mild, with highest temperatures of 11 to 14 degrees in mostly moderate southerly winds, fresher for a time in coastal parts of the west and northwest.

Wednesday night, Christmas night, will continue mainly dry and mostly cloudy, with just a few scattered patches of light rain and drizzle in parts of the west and northwest. Lowest temperatures of 6 to 10 degrees in light to moderate southerly winds.

Thursday, St. Stephens Day, is likely to be mostly cloudy in many areas, but once again generally dry for most, apart from a little patchy drizzle and mist. There is a chance though of more persistent rain and drizzle in parts of west Connacht and west Ulster, with a weather front threatening to encroach from the west. A few bright or sunny spells are possible too, with these most likely in the midlands and east. Highest temperatures of 10 to 12 or 13 degrees in light to moderate southerly winds.

Not too much change then for most for Friday. It's likely to continue mostly cloudy and mainly dry in many areas, with just the possibility of some more persistent rain and drizzle for a time in west Connacht and west Ulster. Highest temperatures of 9 to 12 degrees in light to moderate southerly winds.

With high pressure likely to dominate still, next weekend will continue to bring a lot of dry weather, but with some light rain and drizzle at times. While there's some uncertainty, there's the possibility that it may turn a little cooler.