Met Éireann New Year's weekend forecast features more wintry weather

Met Éireann is forecasting farily brutal wintry weather for the New Year's weekend with heavy rain, hail and strong wind in the forecast for Saturday and Sunday before temperatures plummet to ring in the New Year.

A series of weather warnings are in place for Friday, Saturday and Sunday with Met Eireann warning of rain and strong winds mainly for coastal counties.

New Year's Eve looks set to be a breezy and at times wet day before turning cold at night with some frost or ice forming.

New Year's Day will start with sunny spells and scattered showers. The showers will clear but clouds will build as the day goes one to bring another bout of rain.

Met Éireann says the cool and unsettled weather with rain or showers is expected to continue through the first week of 2024. MORE BELOW AUDIO FORECAST FROM MET Éireann.

Met Éireann National Forecast issued at: 29 December 2023 12:32

Friday: Cloudy periods and some sunny spells along with some scattered showers, some of which will be heavy with hail, especially in the north. Some localised flooding possible in northern counties. Highest temperatures of 5 to 8 degrees in fresh and gusty westerly breezes.

Some clear spells at first at night with just isolated showers. Lowest temperatures of -1 to +3 degrees with some frost and icy stretches forming with light breezes. However, cloud will build from the southwest, turning milder as the rain follows, extending northeastwards over much of the country by morning, accompanied by fresh to strong and gusty southeasterly winds. There is a chance of transient falls of sleet on the leading edge of the rain.

Saturday: A wet and windy start to the day with widespread rain, heavy or thundery at times with some localised flooding possible. The rain will clear from the west to sunny spells and showers from the western half of the country through the morning, extending to all areas in the afternoon. Some showers will be heavy with a chance of isolated thunderstorms and hail. Highest afternoon temperatures of 5 to 9 degrees, coolest in the northwest. Fresh to strong and gusty southerly winds, with onshore gales, will mean there is a chance of coastal flooding in the south and southwest.

Clear spells and squally showers overnight, most frequent in the west and southwest. Lowest temperatures of 3 to 6 degrees in fresh to strong and gusty southerly or cyclonic variable winds.

Sunday New Year's Eve: Breezy or windy with sunny spells and scattered showers and a chance of hail. Fresh to strong and gusty westerly or cyclonic variable winds will gradually decrease moderate to fresh and gusty through the day. Highest temperatures of 5 to 8 degrees generally.

Showers will continue overnight, mainly for Atlantic counties with longer spells of rain possible in the northwest. Some frost or ice will form with lowest temperatures of -1 to +3 degrees in mostly moderate westerly winds.

Monday New Year's Day: Sunny spells and scattered showers at first, becoming more isolated through the morning and early afternoon. Cloud will build from the southwest with rain following, extending northeastwards over much of the country by night-time. Highest afternoon temperatures of 5 to 8 degrees in light to moderate southwesterly winds, backing southeasterly and increasing moderate to fresh with the rain.

Outbreaks of rain will clear northwards from most areas overnight, with clear spells and scattered showers following from the west. Lowest temperatures over the northern half of the country of -2 to 0 degrees, milder further south.

Tuesday: Current indications suggest that there will be further showers or showery outbreaks of rain. Highest temperatures of 6 to 9 degrees generally.

Further Outlook: Generally cool and unsettled with rain or showers expected. Highest temperatures generally ranging from 6 to 8 degrees.