Wrap up well for a miserably cold and wet start to the year

REVELLERS are advised to wrap up well tonight as Met Éireann warns that the miserable weather of recent days will continue into tomorrow.

It predicts ‘fresh or strong to near gale force west to northwesterly winds and highest temperatures of 5C to 8C generally throughout the day. But conditions will worsen as night falls.

The forecaster warned: ‘Some frost or ice will form with lowest temperatures of -1C to +4C in moderate westerly winds.’

The first day of 2024 will usher in sunny spells and scattered showers, but Met Éireann said: ‘Cloud will build from the southwest with rain following, extending northeastwards over Munster, south Leinster and much of Connacht by nightfall. Highest afternoon temperatures of 5C to 8C in light to moderate southwesterly winds, backing southeasterly and moderate to fresh with the rain.’

Tomorrow, rain will spread northwards towards the end of the evening, turning wintry over parts of Connacht and Ulster.

Conditions will clear overnight, with more scattered showers and temperatures in the northern half of the country set to fall to between 0C and 3C, but it will be milder further south.

On Tuesday, the forecaster said there will be more showers. But it added: ‘There will be good dry periods in the east with some brighter spells. Highest temperatures of 6C to 9C or 10C. South to southwest winds will be strong in Atlantic coastal areas.’

Showers are set to spread eastwards midweek, turning colder later in the week.

Things will brighten by the end of the week, with ‘fewer showers and more in the way of sunny spells’ forecast for Saturday.