Mildest Irish Christmas in decades says weather experts

Ireland will experience its mildest Christmas in decades this year with temperatures in the mid 50s Fahrenheit and the possibility it may touch 60 degrees.

The contrast with 2010, when a massive blizzard and snowstorm blanketed the country in the days before Christmas, could not be greater.

Police are warning of travel delays because of the huge numbers who travel home from abroad during the holiday period.

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The official weather forecast for Christmas to New Year’s from Met Eireann states:

“Christmas Day will be very mild, but rather windy and cloudy. There will be patchy rain and drizzle, again persistent in the west and north at times. Highest temperatures will be between 11 and 14 degrees. (50 to 55 Fahrenheit) Southwest winds will be fresh to strong and occasionally gale force near northwest coasts.

Outlook

"The weather will continue to remain mild for the first couple of days after Christmas Day with no frost at night. Most of St. Stephen's Day will be dry; rain will be mainly confined to western parts of Connacht and Ulster.

"It will be a windy day and daytime temperatures will be around 11 or 12 degrees. Rain will be more general over the northern half of the country Stephen's night, but will gradually clear northwards on Tuesday although more widespread rain will follow on Tuesday night.

"There will be a change to colder weather for Wednesday, Thursday and daytime Friday. These days will be bright, showery and fairly windy with most of the showers occurring over the western side of the country; eastern counties will be dry for most of the time these days. Frost will occur at night, but should clear quickly during the morning time. Rain later on Friday will bring a return to milder weather over the New Year period.”