A white Christmas is unlikely but "not impossible", according to Met Eireann. Temperatures are due to drop to between 3 and 7 degrees on Christmas Day. Mr Michael McAuliffe of Met Eireann said: "It's going to be cold everywhere with rain and sleet in the south and drier weather further north but the chance of the odd wintry shower across the country."
The mild weather of the last few days will continue today and tomorrow, with daytime temperatures ranging from 7 to 10 degrees.
Christmas Eve night will turn colder. There is the possibility of icy roads tomorrow night and on Christmas Day and Stephen's Day. But, Mr McAuliffe said, the colder weather should also bring clearer, brighter skies.
He added: "December has been a reasonably mild month. Despite the recent colder weather, the severe weather conditions of the last two years will not be experienced this Christmas."
With low temperatures forecast for Christmas Day, Irish Water Safety has urged people contemplating a celebratory Christmas dip "to exercise due caution" in our cold waters.
:quality(70)/s3.amazonaws.com/arc-authors/irishtimes/0bcd259b-2f01-4cec-ad76-961379866d32.png)