Wet, windy, and freezing: New Year’s weather brings Arctic air to Ireland
Conditions Predicting Mealey Localised Is Hazardous And National Picture: The Paul Travel Flooding Forecaster
Cork and Kerry remain under status yellow alerts as Met Éireann predicts wet and windy weather to kickstart the new year.
The coming days will see lower temperatures nationwide as an Arctic airmass moves towards Europe.
This cold snap is expected to bring temperatures as low as -4C by Thursday, according to the forecaster.
The Rebel County and the Kingdom are currently under a status yellow rain warning, which will continue until 6am on Wednesday morning.
Persistent rain is expected to cause localized flooding and hazardous traveling conditions.
A status yellow gale warning for all coasts and on the Irish Sea is also in place, with Met Éireann warning that southwest to west winds will reach gale force at times until the warning lifts at 10pm tonight.
Earlier, Donegal, Galway, and Mayo had been under status yellow wind warnings. These warnings lapsed at 11am, however.
These warnings coincide with a forecast of an Arctic airmass set to bring much colder conditions across the country from New Year's Eve night, according to Met Éireann.
Tuesday, New Year's Eve, will be "rather cloudy and wet," with a band of rain drifting down over the country. The rain will "gradually move away" during the afternoon, but it will remain cloudy with a few isolated showers.
Highest temperatures of 8C to 11C are expected.
New Year's Eve night will stay cloudy with "rain persisting over southern and central counties."
A few isolated showers will "drift in elsewhere," but most places will stay dry.
Lowest temperatures of 1C to 4C may occur.
Wednesday, New Year's Day, will be cloudy with widespread rain in the south, possibly heavy at times.
The rain will "clear away" later in the morning, followed by a mix of cloud and a few showers, which may turn wintry again across higher ground in the far north.
Highest temperatures of 5C to 8C are forecast, turning "very cold" in the evening.
Wednesday night will be "very cold" with a northerly breeze.
A "mix of cloud and a few showers" will drift down over the country, turning wintry at times in the far north, mainly over higher ground.
Temperatures could drop as low as -3C, with widespread frost and ice.
Thursday will be "largely dry, sunny, and cold," with just a few light showers along north-facing coasts, some wintry.
Highest temperatures of 1C to 5C are expected.
Overnight on Thursday, it will be mostly dry, clear, and cold. Temperatures could drop as low as -4C with widespread frost.
Friday will see a "mix of sunny spells and cloudy periods," but it will still be "bitterly cold," with highs struggling to reach beyond 1C to 5C.
Friday night will become cloudier, with a few showers lingering in the far north, but most areas will stay dry. It will be "another very cold night" with lows of 1C to -3C.
According to current indications, we are in for a "rather unsettled" weekend with outbreaks of rain and blustery winds.
It will remain cold overall, but temperatures are "likely to recover" towards the end of the weekend.
Check out the Irish Examiner's WEATHER CENTRE for regularly updated short and long range forecasts wherever you are.