White Christmas latest: Ireland in grips of Christmas snow 'battleground' amid weather u-turn

Ireland looks set for a dramatic dip in temperatures in Christmas week with Christmas Eve and Christmas Day looking like being very cold.

Meteorologist Alan O'Reilly from Carlow Weather had been monitoring the Christmas weather models for weeks with warm and cold systems battling it out over Ireland.

On Monday, he once again provided his followers with the latest update on the Christmas weather front with the cold system now looking more likely to win out on Christmas Eve and bring a polar plunge to the country. 

"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," he said. 

Meanwhile, Offaly weatherman Cathal Nolan from Ireland's Weather Channel was more confident of a white Christmas for some parts of Ireland this year.

He said: "There’s increasing confidence that during the run in to Christmas and over Christmas Day itself, that Ireland will be held in the grip of a colder spell of weather, with snowfall likely in some areas.

"This change is likely to take place this day next week as a cold front pushes across the country from the northwest, introducing much colder air to its frequent wintry showers in some areas.

"At present this cold spell looks like persisting throughout the run in to Christmas and over Christmas Day itself with some falls of snow likely in the northwest, north and midlands in particular.

"Between now and then high pressure exerts a degree of control with temperatures likely to be above average, while rainfall will be below average though it won’t always be sunny, with variable cloud."

Met Éireann has also hinted at colder temperatures in its latest forecast which extends right up to Christmas Eve.

They say next weekend will be "relatively mild, wet and breezy conditions seem favoured overall, with the potential for heavy rain in the west and north. Briefly colder conditions are possible around Christmas eve."

Between now and then, our weather will be somewhat unsettled with some windy weather in the middle of the week.

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

Met Eireann's latest forecast says "rain will move up over the south of the country tonight [Monday], 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."

"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," their forecast continues.

"Wednesday will be 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 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.

"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," they concluded.