Temperatures set to plummet with Christmas snow possible

James Cox

Met Éireann has said temperatures will plummet approaching Christmas while some weather experts have predicted snow.

Temperatures plummeted to -2C overnight, and this is set to continue with Met Éireann forecasting "mixed" weather.

Met Eireann said: “At forecast week two and towards the latter part of December, the weather over Ireland is forecast to be mixed.

“The very unsettled weather of the preceding week is likely to give way to more changeable conditions with dry periods interspersed with wetter spells.

“Rainfall totals during the week are forecast to be around the seasonal norm. Mean air temperatures are likely to trend near the climatological average.”

Cathal Nolan, from Ireland's Weather Channel, said: "We have seen signs over the past number of days, general trends in the models all hinting towards blocked weather patterns, with the potential for an easterly outbreak developing across the country.

“This time around there’s not this significant cold pool across Europe to make it sufficiently cold for snow at ground level.

“But we could see one or two flurries developing over higher ground as we get in towards the Christmas period itself.”