Watch: White Christmas Met Eireann forecast from meterologist Joanna Donnelly #sneachta
Subtropical air for Santa and Rudolph over Ireland
Met Eireann weather forecaster Joanna Donnelly has delivered the outlook for Christmas Day and it's not a going to feature snow.
She says the mild weather through most of December looks likely to stay around for December 25.
In fact, the extended range forecast says sub-tropical air will be a feature of the Christmas weather.
The poular forecaster delivered the snow chance latest on the Met Eireann farming forecast on RTE on Sunday, December 17.
Ms Donnelly said the weather on Christmas Day would not feature sneachta or anything else dramatic.
"Nondescript" was the word used by Ms Donnelly who added that it wouldn't anything more extreme than some drizly rain in mild weather.
MONTHLY FORECAST, ISSUED BY MET EIREANN ON TUESDAY, DECEMBER 12
Week 1 (Monday 18 December to Sunday 24 December)
A strong zonal mainly westerly air-flow is expected to be in place across Ireland during Forecast Week 1 with high pressure positioned to the south of Ireland and low pressure to the north. Weather conditions will be mixed with drier than average conditions forecast in the east and south of the country whilst wetter than normal conditions are predicted across the west and north. Mean air temperatures are expected to be slightly above normal overall, but temporary cold incursions from the north and west are possible at times.
Week 2 (Monday 25 December to Sunday 31 December)
At Forecast Week 2, there remains a strong signal for a mobile zonal, predominantly westerly air-flow to be in place across Ireland. At this stage, the weather is likely to become more unsettled with alternating periods of cold polar maritime air and mild sub-tropical air. Overall, mean air temperatures are forecast to be slightly above the December norm. Rainfall amounts are predicted to be above normal nationwide, with the highest rainfall totals expected across the western half of the country.
Week 3 (Monday 01 January to Sunday 07 January)
Early indications are that the first week of 2024 will be rather unsettled with a mobile Atlantic regime pushing in showers and bands of precipitation at times. Precipitation totals are expected to be above normal nationwide. Mean air temperatures for the 7-day period are expected to be above normal but that does not preclude the chance of some colder incursions at times.
Week 4 (Monday 08 January to Sunday 14 January)
At Forecast Week 4, there is a weak trend towards a predominant northwest air-flow over Ireland. Precipitation totals are forecast to be slightly above normal whilst mean air temperatures will be close to or slightly above the January average.