Surprise Met Éireann forecast for Ireland amid 'high pressure' and warmer weather

While Met Éireann says the rest of this week will be unsettled with rain and blustery winds, the national forecaster has found some light at the end of the tunnel. 

In its outlook for this week, Met Éireann says it will be "generally unsettled with rain and showers at times" but its long range forecast for the next few weeks paints a better pictures.

Their forecast from next Monday, November 20, says: "High pressure situated close to the southwest is signalling slightly warmer than average temperatures for the period in most areas, although temperatures remaining close to average along eastern coasts. Precipitation amounts are expected to be slightly below average in parts of the east and south of the country while in the north and east precipitation is expected to be slightly above average."

For the week from November 27, they add: "Currently high pressure is forecast to dominate Ireland’s weather for this week, steering weather systems away from our shores. Temperatures are expected to be slightly above average in many areas, however temperatures more around average along eastern and southern coastal areas. As a result of the influence of high pressure, precipitation is expected to be below or around average in most areas, with perhaps the far northwest having slightly above average precipitation amounts."

Beyond that and into early December, they say there is "increasing uncertainty" but that "current indications suggest, slightly wetter than average conditions in most areas, although there is a chance that rainfall in the southeast will be closer to average. Temperatures are forecast to be around average."

Met Éireann seasonal outlook for November, December and January says "the signal from the C3S seasonal models for Ireland during the period is for above average temperatures to continue, with higher than average rainfall amounts likely across Ireland."

This likelihood decreases as we head to Christmas and early next year.

"Wetter than normal conditions are likely across Ireland during November, December and January. Between 5 and 25mm above average rainfall amounts are possible in November and December, whereas January will possibly receive rainfall amounts nearing the average.

"The sea surface temperatures around Irish coasts and over the Atlantic are expected to remain above average during the three-month period, trending 0.5 to 1.0°C degrees higher than normal in November and December. In January, between 0.2 and 0.5 °C above average temperatures are possible in Atlantic waters around Ireland, with the Irish Sea trending 0.5 to 1.0 degrees above the average."