Ireland is strapped in for a ‘roller-coaster’ run up to Christmas as battling weather systems unleash wind, heavy rain, hail, frost, ice and wintry showers.
Parts of the country remain blanketed in snow after heavy downpours at the start of the week.
This will give way a brief mild spell with double-digit temperatures as a deep low-pressure system sweeps in mild air from the Atlantic from tomorrow.
READ MORE: Rare weather event to bring freezing conditions to an end as Met Eireann issue new warning
It will push thermometers as high as 13C in parts on Monday, but some weather experts have warned that the next cold snap may not be far behind.
Met Eireann says the bone-numbing “windchill factor” will tighten its grip mid-week, while some long-range forecasters are already eying up the next snow threat.
Some weather models are showing signs of a bitter blast ploughing in from the east in the run-up to Christmas, sparking fresh ‘Beast from the East’ fears.
Meteorologist Jim Dale told Express: “In the run up to Christmas it looks like we might be on a bit of a roller-coaster. If the Atlantic gets a chance to influence the weather, then we will see low pressure after low pressure, and this will make things more unsettled.
“On the back of that, returning polar maritime air, which is air travelling across the Atlantic from the North Pole, will bring the potential for snow. But we are still a week and a bit off and it is too early to say for certain.”
Meanwhile, independent Irish forecaster Alan O’Reilly shared a weather map showing a ‘White Christmas’ in one county, but cautioned that long-range models are subject to change this far out.
He posted on his popular Carlow Weather social media account: “Latest GFS model wants to bring a White Christmas to Donegal! Huge uncertainty continues on the models for next week but Northern areas at highest risk of cold weather returning.”
In the meantime, Met Eireann says it will remain chilly today but feel much milder tomorrow.
Its forecast for this weekend reads: “Some showers this afternoon, mainly in southern and western parts and more isolated elsewhere, with a good deal of dry and bright weather. Chilly with highest temperatures of 1C to 4C generally with icy conditions lingering in places, but between 5C and 7C in coastal areas of the south and west in mostly light southerly breezes.
“Cold tonight with some frost and ice for a time under clear skies. Later tonight, scattered outbreaks of rain will spread from the southwest, turning heavy in places and locally wintry. Lowest temperatures of -2C to 3C, in freshening southeast winds.
“Generally cloudy Sunday with scattered outbreaks of blustery rain, heaviest across southern and western counties, bringing possible spot flooding here, especially later. The rain may turn wintry locally early on in the north of the country. Much milder than preceding days with afternoon temperatures ranging from 5C to 8C over Ulster and 8C to 12C or 13C further south, all in fresh to strong and gusty southerly winds.
“Very mild on Sunday night with scattered outbreaks of blustery rain, heaviest across southern and western counties, bringing possible spot flooding here. Temperatures not dropping below 10C to 13C nationwide in fresh and gusty southerly winds.”
Looking ahead to early next week, it said it will be “unsettled with wet and windy conditions at times” with a “windchill factor” on Tuesday.
The national forecaster said: “Rather wet and windy with outbreaks of rain in the south and west, heaviest all the while across southern and western counties with further spot flooding. Mild with highest temperatures of 11C to 13C in fresh to strong south to southwest winds. Becoming mostly dry after-dark, though showers will follow in across Atlantic counties. Lowest temperatures of 4C to 7C in moderate to fresh southwest winds, stronger along Atlantic coasts.
“Rather windy on Tuesday too with sunny spells and showers, most frequent across Atlantic counties, some heavy with hail. Highest temperatures of 7C to 9C in fresh to strong and gusty southwest winds. Cold and blustery on Tuesday night with clear spells and showers right across the country, some heavy and of hail. Lowest temperatures of 3C to 5C, with a wind chill factor, all in brisk west to southwest winds.
“A breezy day on Wednesday with sunny spells and scattered showers, most of the showers will occur in the morning. Highest temperatures generally ranging 6C to 10C. Frost will set in across sheltered areas after dark with clear and calm weather setting in for a time.”
While it is still too early to pinpoint whether Ireland will get a White Christmas, bookies have slashed the odds on snow falling on December 25.
BoyleSports has confirmed the odds on a White Christmas in Ireland are continuing to shorten as more and more punters are banking on a flurry of festive snow.
The chances of snow on Christmas Day at Dublin Airport were rated at a remote 8/1 last month, but had sunk into 6/4 by the start of this week.
However a sustained pattern over recent days means BoyleSports now rate snowfall on the 25th at Dublin Airport at even money, compared to the 6/1 which was available on the same date last year.
Spokesperson Lawrence Lyons said: “The drop in temperatures is probably more severe than many anticipated and it feels like the odds on a white Christmas are the only thing not freezing at the minute. They are continuing to fall as fast as the temperatures and if trends continue in the next few days it won’t be long before we have to go odds-on about Christmas Day snowfall.”
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