Donegal remains under status yellow rain and wind warnings until 11am this morning (Tuesday) as 2024 ends with a blustery finish.
The weather will take a turn in the New Year, turning cold with snow and widespread frost in the forecast.
The worst of the rain today is expected to be confined to Munster and south Leinster in the afternoon, with sunny spells and isolated showers elsewhere.
Met Eireann’s Deputy Head of Forecasting, Liz Coleman, gives us a summary outlook: “It will be a wet and windy night in the southwest and south for the New Year’s Eve festivities, especially in those counties where we have warnings in place, with persistent rain and some flurries of sleet or snow possible.
“So plan ahead if you are going to be out and about celebrating. It will be clearer further north with scattered showers.
“The rain will gradually clear to the southeast on New Year’s Day, with brighter conditions and scattered showers following from the northwest through the afternoon. Fresh to strong southwest winds will gradually ease and veer northerly, so that will introduce much colder conditions from Wednesday evening onwards.
Liz continues “quite a change for Thursday and Friday, feeling much more like winter with bright, cold and crisp days and a few wintry showers. Very cold at night with widespread frost and some icy patches so do take care when out and about.”
Thursday and Friday will bring crisp clear days with temperatures struggling to remain in the single figures during the day. Widespread frosts and icy patches are forecast at night as temperatures plummet below zero countrywide.
Currently indications suggest a return to more unsettled conditions on the weekend.
