Ireland has been blasted by a deep freeze in recent days - but a dramatic shift in temperatures is just hours away.
Met Eireann is forecasting a 15C temperature surge today, with thermometers set to reach 13C in parts.
It marks a big change from the -2C lows forecast over the weekend.
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The milder weather will bring with it wet and windy conditions with two weather warnings in place.
A Status Yellow rain alert for Cork, Kerry, Waterford, Galway and Mayo reads: “Heavy rain at times Sunday night and on Monday morning with spot flooding possible. Highest amounts in coastal and mountainous areas.” It’s in place until 12.30pm.
A second Status Yellow alert for wind, affecting Carlow, Kilkenny, Waterford and Wexford, reads: “On Monday morning, south to southwest winds will reach mean speeds of 45 to 65 Km/hr with gusts of up to 100 km/hr.” It’s in place until noon.
Meanwhile, with Christmas less than a week away, there’s uncertainty over the forecast.
Met Eireann has yet to issue its official forecast for December 25, however weather experts say there is a potential for “stormy” conditions.
Independent forecaster Alan O’Reilly shared long-range weather maps to his popular Carlow Weather social media accounts, explaining: “Huge uncertainty still on the forecast for this weekend. A low system is forecast to track near Ireland Christmas Day with the GFS model keeping it South of Ireland but the ECMWF brings it into Ireland with potential for a stormy Christmas night.
“Hopefully the ECMWF model is not the correct outcome as it has some nasty winds Christmas night and St. Stephen’s Day.”
In the meantime, giving its forecast for today, Met Eireann said: “Windy today with fresh to strong and gusty southerly winds, veering southwesterly, with gales on southeastern coasts at first and later along western coasts. Cloudy with outbreaks of showery rain during the morning, heaviest across southern and western counties with spot flooding possible. Highest temperatures in the early afternoon of 7 to 9 degrees in the west and 10C to 13C in the east. Cooler, drier and brighter conditions will follow from the southwest through the afternoon.
“Breezy tonight with fresh and gusty southwest winds. Largely dry with clear spells though well scattered showers will develop for Atlantic coastal counties. Lowest temperatures of 3C to 7C.”
Looking ahead to tomorrow, it said: “Another windy day with sunny spells and scattered showers, some heavy with the possibility of hail. Southwest winds will be fresh to strong and gusty with gales on Atlantic coasts. Highest temperatures of 6C to 10C.
“A blustery night with clear spells and scattered showers with a chance of hail. The showers will be most frequent in the northwest, merging to longer spells of rain later. Lowest temperatures of 3C to 6C in fresh to strong and gusty southwest winds.”
It’s forecast for the rest of the week reads: “Sunny spells at first on Wednesday with showers, mainly in the northwest, clearing northwards gradually. Outbreaks of rain will develop in the southwest in the morning, extending gradually over much of the country through the day. Highest temperatures of 7C to 10C. Fresh and gusty southwesterly winds will ease through the morning.
“Outbreaks of rain will clear eastwards through Thursday morning, becoming largely dry with a few outbreaks of light rain and drizzle. Highest temperatures of 7C to 10C in mostly light breezes.
“Cloudy on Friday with rain in the southwest at first, will extend northeastwards across the country with some heavy falls possible. A clearance to sunny spells and showers will then follow from the southwest. Highest temperatures of 7C to 11C, coolest in the north.
“A good deal of uncertainty for Christmas weekend but current indications suggest it will continue unsettled.”
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