Met Éireann has one surprising prediction for Christmas day weather amid twist

Met Éireann is predicting a mild and larger dry Christmas with a surprise in store on the temperature front.

In their latest update, they said it would be "a cloudy Christmas Eve but it will be largely dry with just a little patchy light rain and drizzle. Some mist and hill and coastal fog will linger this morning too. Unseasonably mild with highest temperatures of 11 to 13 degrees in moderate southwest winds, a little fresher in coastal parts of the northwest.

"Christmas Eve night will be mostly cloudy with a few patches of drizzle and mist, though the odd clear spell will break through. So, Santa will have no problem making his way across the country, especially with the help of a moderate to fresh southwesterly wind. Lowest temperatures of 7 to 11 degrees," they added.

There's a surprise coming Christmas Day with even higher temperatures. Met Éireann said it will be "mild and quite cloudy, though some brighter breaks will develop. Most places will be dry but a few patches of light rain and drizzle will affect the western half of the country. Highest temperatures of 11 to 13 degrees in moderate southwest winds, fresh at times on west and northwest coasts."

The forecast continues: "Christmas night will stay largely cloudy but dry at first with just a little patchy rain and drizzle. However, more persistent rain and drizzle will develop in Connacht and Ulster overnight. Lowest temperatures of 8 to 11 degrees in a light to moderate southerly breeze.

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"Thursday (St. Stephen's Day) will be another cloudy day with scattered outbreaks of rain and drizzle, along with some mist patches. Rain will be most persistent in the west and north with a few brighter breaks possible in the east and midlands. Highest temperatures of 10 to 13 degrees in light to moderate southerly winds.

"Staying cloudy on Thursday night with scattered patches of light rain and drizzle. Lowest temperatures of 8 to 11 degrees in light to moderate southerly winds.

"A cloudy day with further patchy light rain and drizzle [on Fridayh], mainly across the western half of the country. There will be a good deal of dry weather further east. Highest temperatures of 9 to 12 degrees in light to moderate southerly winds.

"A wet start to Saturday with outbreaks of rain spreading across the country from the west. The rain will clear in the afternoon, followed by sunny spells and isolated showers. Highest afternoon temperatures of 7 to 10 degrees in moderate westerly winds."

Beyond that, it looks like our weather could take a u-turn as we approach 2025. Met Éireann said: "There is some uncertainty in the forecast for Sunday and the early days of next week. High pressure will be nearby on Sunday but there will still be some rain and drizzle across the west and north. Current indications suggest that it will then turn more unsettled and cooler next week."