Other papers have already forecast a white Christmas...

... but we wouldn’t be so irresponsible

A file photograph of a squirrel looking for food in a snow covered Merrion Square in Dublin.Met Éireann has forecast flurries of snow on higher ground in the west, east and north of the country this weekend. Photograph: Bryan O’Brien/ The Irish Times.

Snow is coming, for some at least, with occasional flurries forecast for this weekend.

Met Éireann said some "bitterly cold and rather blustery" weather is expected on Sunday and scattered showers in the west of the country would be wintry in nature "with snow on western and northern hills and possibly some sleet on lower levels".

It said temperatures would peak at between 3 and 6 degress on Sunday and that a flurry or two of snow could also be expected on higher ground in the east with “some snow accumulation” possible in northern areas that night.

Met Éireann forecaster John Eagleton said the country was not facing a “serious snow situation” but that there would be a “good dusting left on the hills in the west and north”.

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He said a period of changeable weather was approaching but that the cold conditions experienced on Sunday would moderate on Monday night and into Tuesday.

Mr Eagleton said there was potential for a cold snap from next weekend on but “nothing you wouldn’t expect for early December in Ireland”.

After a cold start, Friday is expected to see sunny and dry conditions in the east with afternoon high temperatures of 5-9 degrees. Counties on the Atlantic coast were expected to face rain and hail showers which could turn wintry on higher ground.

Temperatures are expected to fall to -2 degrees in some areas overnight and Met Éireann said frost and icy stretches would develop with patches of mist and fog occurring also.

Saturday is likely to be a warmer day with highest temperatures of 8-10 degrees. Most areas are expected to be dry with “rain feeding into the west and northwest counties later on in the evening”.

Steven Carroll

Steven Carroll

Steven Carroll is an Assistant News Editor with The Irish Times