When will it snow? Met Éireann weather forecaster has latest #SNEACHTA

Freezing, wintry weather with snow is in the Met Éireann weather forecast as meteorological winter begins on Friday, December 1.

In a commentary on what to expect the forecaster says that as that date approaches, a northerly airflow will become established over Ireland, introducing much colder conditions, with widespread frost and some ice developing each night. It says there will be occasional showers through the week too, which may turn wintry, but these showers will be quite light with minimal accumulations.  

So how cold will it be? Met Éireann meteorologist Aoife Kealy explains.

“An Arctic airmass is going to sink across us this week, bringing noticeably colder conditions than we’ve had lately. Daytime temperatures will struggle to get above the low single figures, especially from Wednesday onwards. Night time temperatures will be near freezing or below through the week too so that means there’ll be widespread frost and some ice. On top of that, light winds will allow fog to develop overnight, becoming dense in places. Any frost, ice and fog will be slow to clear in the mornings making travel difficult at times. So, extra care will be needed on the roads,” warns Ms Kealy.

And is it going to be wet or dry? The meteorologist gives a prediction.

"While it will be cold, the week will be largely dry with some spells of sunshine. High pressure will often be near Ireland through the period, bringing generally settled conditions and preventing any significant rainfall.

“There’s potential for patchy rain in the south on Wednesday night and there will be a few showers at times, especially in the north and east, but these showers will be light. So, overall there’ll be plenty of dry weather,” she said.

And will there be snow?

“Given the cold conditions, on Thursday and Friday it’s possible that some showers will turn to hail or sleet with a chance of some snow, particularly over higher ground. But even where the showers do turn wintry, accumulations will be very small,” she said.

Ms Kealy concludes with an answer to how long will the cold spell last?

"Uncertainty increases from the weekend onwards. Current indications suggest that conditions will remain colder than average with further showers, turning wintry at times. However, there is also potential for some longer spells of rain if milder air makes its way across us from the south," she said.

Met Éireann forecast issued on November 29 below x post.

Already feeling the cold ? Could there be #snow this week? Met Éireann’s forecaster Aoife Kealy tells us what to expect ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/sXkNR7ndb8

— Met Éireann (@MetEireann) November 28, 2023

Wednesday: Cold and mainly dry with mist and some dense patches of fog in places. Frost and some icy patches in east Leinster and in Ulster. Mist, fog and frost will slowly clear and bright or sunny spells will develop. There'll be a few light showers near coasts. Highest temperatures of 3 to 7 degrees with light east to northeast breezes.

 
A cold and mainly dry night with clear spells and some patches of mist or fog. A few showers will develop in eastern counties over night, turning wintry on high ground. Frost and some icy patches also with lowest temperatures of -2 to +2 degrees and light to moderate north to northeast breezes.

Thursday: Cold, breezy and mainly dry with frost clearing and bright or sunny spells developing. There'll be a few showers in eastern areas. Highest temperatures of 3 to 6 degrees with moderate north to northeast breezes.

 
Cold and mainly dry night with clear spells and with widespread frost and some icy patches. Some patches of mist and fog also. Scattered showers will affect western parts of Connacht and Ulster and also some areas along the east coast. Some of these may be wintry. Lowest temperatures of -4 to +1 degrees, with light northerly or variable breezes.

Friday: Morning, frost, and any mist or fog will gradually clear. The first day of the meteorological winter will be cold and mainly dry with sunny spells. There'll be a few showers in coastal areas. Highest temperatures of 3 to 6 degrees with light to moderate northwesterly breezes.

Cold and mainly dry with clear spells and some patches of mist or fog at night. Some showers will develop in the west and north, possibly turning wintry in the north. Lowest temperatures of -3 to 0 degrees with frost and some icy patches.

Saturday: Another cold day with sunny spells for a time. Cloud will increase from the west later. Highest temperatures of just 2 to 6 degrees with light west to southwest breezes. Through Saturday evening and night, there's a possibility of rain and drizzle spreading eastwards and turning to sleet or snow for a time as it does so. Lowest temperatures of -2 to +2 degrees.

Sunday: Cold and mainly dry with sunny spells. Highest temperatures of 3 to 6 degrees with light breezes.

Current indications suggest that Monday and Tuesday of next week will continue cold and mainly dry.