Met Éireann said the weather will become milder and more settled with high pressure expected to dominate as we enter Christmas week.
The national forecaster said that today (Monday, December 23) will be a cloudy day with some heavy rain and drizzle extending across the country during the morning.
It will become milder as the day progresses with afternoon highs of 10° to 13°C, cooler in the east until evening. The westerly winds will be moderate and fresh at times in western coastal areas.
Tonight will be mainly cloudy, and misty with some light rain and drizzle, hill and coastal fog.
Overnight lows of 7° to 11° in mostly moderate westerly winds, becoming southwesterly and freshening in northwestern coastal parts.
Christmas
Tomorrow, Christmas Eve, will be mainly cloudy and dry, some patches of light rain and drizzle at times.
Feeling mild for the time of year with highest temperatures of 11° to 13° in moderate southwest winds, fresher along northwestern coasts.
Met Éireann said that Christmas Eve night will bring “very favourable conditions” for Santa’s visit to Ireland.
It will be a mainly dry night, with some clear spells and just a few patches of mist and drizzle. Temperatures will range from 8° to 11° in mostly moderate south to southwest winds, fresh to strong on west and northwest coasts.
Wednesday, Christmas Day, will be largely dry, cloudy and mild in many areas with some bright or sunny spells too. There will be a few patches of light rain and drizzle.
It will feel mild for the time of year with highest temperatures of 11° to 14° in mostly moderate south to southwest winds, fresher for a time in coastal parts of the west and northwest.
Staying mainly dry and cloudy on Christmas night, with just a few spots of light rain and drizzle.
However, rain and drizzle will be more persistent in parts of the west and northwest. Lowest overnight temperatures of 8° to 11° in light to moderate southerly winds.
Thursday (St. Stephens Day) is likely to be mostly cloudy with patchy rain, drizzle and mist. Some bright or sunny spells are possible in the midlands and east.
Highest temperatures of 10° to 13° in light to moderate south to southwest winds, fresher at times in coastal parts of the west and northwest.
Thursday night, St Stephen’s night, will continue mostly cloudy with a few spots of light rain and drizzle. Lowest temperatures of 8° to 11° in light to moderate south to southwest winds, fresher at times in coastal parts of the west and northwest.
Another mostly cloudy and largely dry day on Friday, some patches of light rain and drizzle in places. There will be ,ore persistent rain and drizzle in west Connacht and west Ulster.
Highest temperatures of 9° to 12° in light to moderate south to southwest winds.
Looking ahead to next week, high pressure is expected to continue to dominate our weather, resulting in generally settled conditions.
Met Éireann
Met Éireann said that rainfall amounts are expected to be below average over the coming week, with between 1 and 5mm in most areas, in western and northern areas 25 to 47mm is possible.
As it becomes milder, temperatures will be above average. Mean air temperatures will likely range between 9° and 11°, with values ranging 3° to 5° above normal in places. Mean soil temperatures will also remain above average.
While high pressure looks set to develop this week, sunshine may be limited meaning that drying may be moderate or poor. Spraying conditions will be generally poor until Tuesday.
All soils are currently saturated or close to it and some moderately drained and poorly drained soils are waterlogged. Similar conditions will likely prevail for the coming week.