Christmas cold snap possible as mild temperatures set to drop

Simon Kelly

Dreaming of a mild Christmas.

Met Éireann have said that “colder conditions are possible around Christmas eve”, as mild temperatures are set to dominate the week ahead.

In the run up to Christmas, the country has enjoyed unusually mild conditions, with temperatures reaching around 13C in some areas.

However, despite the warmer temperatures continuing, they looks set to drop right before Christmas day, if only for a brief time.

Taking to X, weather expert Alan O’Reilly has also hinted at the possibility of cold conditions on the 25th, saying: “Christmas Day forecast still very uncertain with Ireland right in the battle zone for cold and mild air. You really couldn’t call it yet but a small trend back to higher risk of cool air this morning.”

Christmas Day forecast still very uncertain with Ireland right in the battle zone for cold and mild air. You really couldn’t call it yet but a small trend back to higher risk of cool air this morning. pic.twitter.com/J42kJbgpe1

— Carlow Weather (@CarlowWeather) December 18, 2023

Mild temperatures set to continue in run-up to Christmas

Met Éireann haven’t ruled out the cold snap, stating in their long-term forecast that there could be “periods of cold polar maritime air” during Christmas week.

In their weekly forecast on Monday, December 18, the national forecaster have said that the overall weather will be “changeable and rather windy at times.”

Monday December 18
Mild and mostly cloudy with patchy rain and drizzle, say Met Éireann. Clearer, cooler and drier conditions will develop in the west and north this afternoon. Afternoon temperatures of 9 to 13 degrees in light to moderate westerly winds.

Rain will move up over the south of the country tonight, turning heavy at times, with the possibility of spot flooding near the south coast. The rain will be patchier further north, with a clearance extending from the northwest overnight. Lowest temperatures of 2 to 6 degrees with a touch of frost possible in Connacht and Ulster. Light variable breezes becoming light to moderate west to northwest by morning.

Mild and mostly cloudy☁️ with patchy rain, drizzle and mist to begin today, Monday.

Clearer, cooler and drier conditions will develop in the west and north this afternoon.

Afternoon highs of 9 to 13°C.

More here⬇️https://t.co/yEsIuCkWlq pic.twitter.com/nEN57xDWRL

— Met Éireann (@MetEireann) December 18, 2023

Tuesday December 19
Scattered showers and sunshine tomorrow, Tuesday the showers most frequent in the west and northwest near the coast. A noticeably colder day with highest temperatures of 7 to 9 degrees with west to northwest winds increasing moderate, occasionally fresh, strong on west facing coasts.

Clear spells and a few showers at first on Tuesday night, but becoming cloudier from the Atlantic overnight with outbreaks of rain and drizzle developing. Lowest temperatures of 2 to 6 degrees will occur early on with temperatures rising as the night goes on. It’ll become rather windy overnight too with westerly winds increasing moderate to fresh, strong to near gale in coastal parts of the west north.

Wednesday, December 20
A breezy or windy day and mostly cloudy with scattered outbreaks of rain and drizzle. The rain will be heaviest and most persistent in the west and north. Milder than Tuesday, with highest temperatures of 9 to 11 degrees with moderate to fresh and gusty westerly winds.

Windy on Wednesday night with further spells of rain and drizzle. Mild with lowest temperatures of 8 to 11 degrees in fresh to strong and gusty westerly winds.

Thursday, December 21
Thursday will be an even windier day with outbreaks of rain and drizzle. Brighter clearer conditions with scattered blustery showers will extend down from the north as the day goes on. Afternoon highs of 7 to 11 degrees in strong and gusty westerly winds.

Friday, December 22:
Still breezy on Friday, but not as windy as Thursday. Current indications suggest a mix of bright or sunny spells and showers, some of them possibly heavy. Afternoon highs ranging 6 to 10 degrees with moderate to fresh and gusty west to northwest winds.