An outbreak of mild weather has dashed all hope of a white Christmas in Ireland this weekend.

Forecasters are predicting that temperatures could go as high as 11 degrees Celsius in and around Christmas day.

Icy conditions were replaced by improving temperatures and rainfall in the greater Dublin area as the weather improved on Monday.

Experts at the government’s Met Eireann weather service say the weather will continue to improve throughout the week.

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“It doesn’t look at this stage like we are going to have a white Christmas,” said forecaster Joanna Donnelly, a year after the country was engulfed by heavy snowfalls.

“Monday will see rain and a return to more normal temperatures. Temperatures on Monday and Tuesday will range between 7C to 10C, increasing on Wednesday.”

Donnelly confirmed that mild weather is expected on Christmas Day and St Stephen’s Day, with dry conditions in most areas.