Ireland 'one of the warmest spots' in Europe this Christmas Eve but a change is coming

Ireland is "one of the warmest spots in Europe" this Christmas Eve but a change is coming over the next few days, according to Met Éireann and weather model. 

Alan O'Reilly from Carlow Weather posted a positive update on Christmas Eve about the mild weather.

He said: "A balmy start to Christmas Eve with Ireland one of the warmest spots in Europe, up to 13c! A damp start also but rain clearing South with some bright spells and scattered showers developing, still very windy with Malin Head up to 98kmh!"

Ireland has endured days of windy weather and while that looks set to continue into Christmas day, St Stephen's Day and December 27, the temperatures may finally see a wintry decline, especially at night.

Met Éireann has said that things will remain "unsettled" in the final days of December and that temperatures could dip close to freezing on Christmas night.

"Christmas Eve will be windy with a fresh to strong and gusty westerly wind. Cloudy with outbreaks of rain and drizzle at first, which will gradually clear southwards through the day but may linger near southern coasts. Scattered blustery showers and some brighter spells will follow from the north. Highest afternoon temperatures of 9 to 13 degrees," their forecast reads.

"In most areas tonight there'll be scattered showers and some clear spells. However, it will be cloudy near the south coast with rain and drizzle at times. It will be less windy with a moderate to fresh westerly wind. Lowest temperatures of 5 to 10 degrees.

"Christmas Day will be breezy and mostly cloudy. There will be some rain or drizzle in the south during the morning and afternoon with scattered showers elsewhere. By evening there will be a mix of clear spells and scattered showers, most frequent in the north. Highest temperatures of 7 to 11 degrees in a moderate to fresh westerly wind, strong at times in the west.

"Colder than recent nights [on Christmas night] with lowest temperatures of 0 to 4 degrees. Most places will be dry with clear spells but some showers will affect the north and northwest. Moderate to fresh westerly winds at first, easing overnight."

They say Tuesday, St. Stephen's Day, will be cool and mostly dry with sunny spells.

"Cloud will build from the south later and rain will develop over Munster and south Leinster during the evening. Highest temperatures of 5 to 9 degrees in a light westerly or variable wind, becoming easterly and increasing moderate later.

"Cloudy and wet as rain spreads northwards over the country [Tuesday night]. Breezy too in a moderate to fresh easterly wind. It will be coldest early in the night, with lowest temperatures ranging from -2 degrees in the north to +6 degrees in the south.

"Cloudy for the morning and afternoon [on Wednesday] with rain in most areas. The rain will clear eastwards later leaving mostly dry conditions for the evening. Highest temperatures of 5 to 11 degrees, mildest in the southeast. Moderate to fresh easterly winds at first, easing and becoming southwesterly through the day.

"Unsettled with widespread showers and fresh to strong winds [overnight]. Lowest temperatures of 3 to 6 degrees."

Looking ahead to Thursday, Met Éireann predicts "widespread showers and strong winds for a time in the morning. Sunny spells and less frequent showers following for the rest of the day, with winds easing moderate to fresh westerly. Highest temperatures of 5 to 10 degrees."

Beyond that, they say things look like "remaining largely unsettled for the last days of December."