Ireland to be endure six days of strong winds before Christmas amid brutal forecast

Met Éireann is predicting some extremely windy weather later this week as we head into Christmas weekend with warnings already issued for the north of the country.

The wind looks set to arrive on Wednesday night with Thursday being the windiest day of the week. Some mild warnings are possible with Status Yellow wind warnings already in place for Northern Ireland.

Met Éireann issued the wind warning for Antrim, Armagh, Down, Fermanagh, Tyrone and Derry predicts that "strong winds are likely to affect a wide area through Thursday, potentially causing some travel disruption."

In its general forecast for the period, Met Éireann says it will be "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 will be a windy day with outbreaks of rain and drizzle. Brighter, clearer conditions with scattered blustery showers will extend southwards from the north as the day goes on. Afternoon highs of 9 to 12 degrees in strong and gusty westerly winds."

Meanwhile, Alan O'Reilly from Carlow Weather has predicted "very windy conditions for the next five to six days with strong gusts at times."

Alan also posted an update for Christmas travellers: "For those travelling home for Christmas over the next few days there is no significant issues currently forecast. Strong winds could cause some bumpy ferry trips but flights should be OK and Iceland volcano shouldn’t cause any issues either."

For those travelling home for Christmas over the next few days there is no significant issues currently forecast. Strong winds could cause some bumpy ferry trips but flights should be OK and Iceland volcano shouldn’t cause any issues either. pic.twitter.com/NvF3RrPcEn

— Carlow Weather (@CarlowWeather) December 19, 2023

He went on to say there will be "plenty of wind over the coming days but rainfall mainly showers and worst in West and North. Cooler today but turning milder for the following few days before possibly turning a little cooler for Christmas Day and St. Stephen’s Day."

Met Éireann says Tuesday will be "bright and breezy with sunny spells and some scattered showers, these mainly in the west and north. Noticeably colder than recent days with highest temperatures of 7 to 9 degrees and moderate to fresh west to northwest winds.

"Clear spells and a few showers at first [Tuesday night], but becoming cloudier from the Atlantic overnight with outbreaks of rain and drizzle developing. Lowest temperatures of 3 to 6 degrees, but becoming milder overnight. Westerly winds will increase fresh and will be strong in coastal parts of the west and north.

"Wednesday will a mostly cloudy, breezy and damp day, with outbreaks of rain and drizzle in all areas at times. Rain will be heaviest and most persistent in the west and north. Mild with highest temperatures of 9 to 11 degrees and moderate to fresh, gusty westerly winds."

Beyond the stormy conditions on Thursday, they say it will be "breezy again on Friday, with sunny spells and scattered showers, some of them possibly heavy. Afternoon highs ranging 8 to 11 degrees with moderate to fresh west to northwest winds."

"A mostly cloudy day, with wet and windy conditions developing through the day. Again, rather mild with highest temperatures of 11 to 13 degrees, and moderate to fresh southwesterly breezes."

Forecasters at Weather Alerts Ireland have given their prediction for Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and St Stephen's Day.

They say this week will be "lively" with some "very windy days and heavy showers and possibly persistent in parts of the West."

They says "cold air is expected to push down on Christmas Eve" but that it will be "mainly dry but fairly windy."

For Christmas Day, they say "a band of rain is forecast to push over Ireland. For parts of Ulster (looking like mainly higher ground) some wintry precipitation is possible."