Met Éireann pinpoints return of wintry showers to Ireland amid Christmas u-turn

Met Éireann has pinpointed the day we will see cold and blustery weather before Christmas with wintry showers even possible in some places locally.

Forecasters are continuing to watch weather models for the festive period but before a change at the weekend, cold and unsettled weather will make its presence felt over Ireland.

In their latest update, Met Éireann said the next few days would be cold with a touch of frost possible overnight.

In their forecast for Wednesday, they said: "Rather cloudy with outbreaks of rain in the west and northwest but sunny spells will develop later. More cloud will build however this afternoon with outbreaks of rain following in across Munster and south Leinster. A little breezy at times too with highs of 7 to 11 degrees.

"Cloudy with outbreaks of rain, possibly heavy at times in the south [on Wednesday night] Rain will clear away later in the night followed by scattered showers in a northwesterly breeze. A little chilly too with lowest temperatures of 1 to 4 degrees.

"Sunny spells and scattered cloud from early in the morning [on Thursday] with just a few showers. The showers will gradually die out in the afternoon with longer spells of sunshine developing in a northwesterly breeze. Highest temperatures of 7 to 11 degrees."

READ NEXT: Met Éireann in brutal pre-Christmas weather forecast as they make big prediction

The forecast continues to say Thursday night will be "rather cold with a touch of frost possible in the east. Turning cloudier from the west overnight with few showers for western areas. Staying mostly dry further east with lowest temperatures of 2 to 7 degrees, coldest in the east, in moderate westerly winds.

"A band of rain will push eastwards across Ireland on during the morning [on Friday] with a mix of sunshine and scattered showers following for the afternoon. Maximum temperatures of 8 to 11 degrees in fresh westerly winds, strong at times in the west.

"Breezy with showers moving in from the Atlantic during the night [on Friday]. Staying mostly dry further east with lowest temperatures of 4 to 8 degrees in fresh westerly winds."

Looking to the last shopping weekend before Christmas, Met Éireann says Saturday will be "windy overall with sunny spells and scattered showers. Maximum afternoon temperatures of 7 to 11 degrees with strong and gusty westerly winds. Cold and blustery on Saturday night with clear spells and scattered showers, some of the showers possibly wintry in Ulster. Lowest temperatures of 2 to 6 degrees in fresh to strong northwest winds."

They conclude: "Early indications suggest it will be cold and breezy on Sunday with sunshine and showers. Maximum temperatures of 4 to 9 degrees."

Despite this unsettled picture, Met Éireann is predicting a mild Christmas. In their extended range forecast, they say: "From 23rd to 29th December, the weather across Ireland is expected to be dominated by high pressure with a mild southwesterly airflow for much of the period. Rainfall amounts will be small and it will be mild for late December, with temperatures possibly around two degrees above average."