What is the weather for New Year's Day weekend? Met Éireann has forecast

The year looks set to end in wintry wet weather while 2023 will start with sunny spells but also some wintry thundery showers in some very cold conditions, according to the New Year's weekend forecast from Met Éireann.

The forecasters say rain will affect the northern half of the country with drier and brighter conditions further south on New Year's eve. However, the showers will push over much of the country by evening. Highest temperatures will be 2 to 6 degrees in mostly light variable breezes.

As the year comes to end, the showers will continue there could be some falls of sleet possible on high ground overnight. Frost is likely in the north Lowest as temperatures will be between 1 to 5 degrees nationally on Saturday night into Sunday

As for Sunday, New Year's Day, Met Éireann expects cloud and sunny spells along with showers, some turning wintry. The forecasters are also warning of isolated thunderstorms. Highest temperatures of 4 to 8 degrees.

As night descends on the first day of the year, Met Éireann expects a very cold night with temperatures falling to -3 degrees. 

Monday will be the last day off work for the festivities for many which Met Éireann expects will be cool but largely dry with good deals of sunshine.

In its further outlook Met Éireann says current indications suggest that the rest of the week will be unsettled with spells of rain and showers. MORE BELOW TWEET.

Remaining unsettled for the rest of the week with wet️ and at times blustery conditions, it will become relatively mild though.

It does however look to turn cooler over the weekend especially over the northern half of the country.

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— Met Éireann (@MetEireann) December 28, 2022

National Forecast issued at 8.20am on December 30

Friday: Wet and windy morning with fresh southwesterly winds. Rain gradually clearing eastwards leaving sunny spells and scattered showers for the afternoon. While there will be a brief lull in the winds, they will increase fresh to strong and gusty for the afternoon, easing again this evening. Highest temperatures of 7 to 10 degrees.

Largely dry at first overnight but showers will develop and become more widespread through the night with longer spells of rain developing for much of Munster and Leinster. Driest and coldest in parts of the north and west, with lowest temperatures of -1 to +3 degrees, with frost and patches of fog developing. Milder elsewhere with lowest temperatures of 3 to 6 degrees in mostly light to moderate southerly winds, fresher near southern coasts.

Saturday (New Year's Eve): Morning will feature showers or longer spells of rain will affect mainly the northern half of the country with drier and brighter conditions further south. Showery outbreaks of rain will push up from the south over much of the country through the afternoon and evening. Highest temperatures of 2 to 6 degrees in the north and west and ranging 6 to 9 degrees further south, in mostly light variable breezes but fresher at times in the south and southwest.

Showery outbreaks of rain overnight will continue to track northwards, with some falls of sleet possible, especially on high ground. Further showers will follow in the clearance, mainly affecting southern and western coastal areas. Lowest temperatures of 1 to 5 degrees with frost developing in the north. Southerly winds will be mostly light to moderate, allowing some mist and fog patches to develop, but fresher along southern coasts.

Sunday (New Year's Day): Current indications are that there will be a mix of cloud and sunny spells along with showers, some turning wintry. There will also be the chance of isolated thunderstorms. Highest temperatures of 4 to 8 degrees.

A very cold night with lowest temperatures of -3 to 0 degrees. Becoming largely dry and clear as showers become more isolated. Moderate westerly winds will back southwesterly and ease light with fog patches developing.

Monday: A cool and largely dry with good deals of sunshine and just a few passing light showers, mainly affecting southern and Atlantic coasts. Highest temperatures of just 2 to 6 degrees in light to moderate southerly winds, freshening in the west and southwest later. Dry early on in the night but outbreaks of rain and drizzle extend northeastwards to most areas by morning. Lowest temperatures of -1 to +4 degrees, coldest in the north and east before the rain arrives.

Tuesday: A largely dull day with outbreaks of rain clearing eastwards from most areas by early afternoon before another spell of rain moves eastwards across the country through the late afternoon and evening. Turning milder as well with highest temperatures of 6 to 11 degrees (north to southwest).

Current indications suggest that the rest of the week will be unsettled with spells of rain and showers.