There is little chance of a white Christmas - unless a possible hoar frost on Monday morning is taken into account, according to Met Éireann. Tim O'Brienreports.
The good news is that it is expected to be dry between today and Christmas Day, with good amounts of sunshine hampered occasionally by early fog.
According to forecasters frost and fog will clear slowly this morning and the day will be dry with some good sunny periods, especially in the east and southeast. Western coastal counties will see the most cloud with a light southerly breeze. Afternoon temperatures will be six to nine degrees celsius. Tonight is expected to be dry with little or no wind and variable amounts of cloud and some frost and fog patches may form.
Tomorrow will continue mainly dry with light to moderate, south to southeast breezes. Despite a good deal of cloud, some sunny breaks should occur and temperatures are expected to be about normal. However, hill and coastal drizzle may affect the south and west. A good deal of cloud is likely to persist tomorrow night together with light southerly breezes; some frost or fog may occur, but not on a widespread basis.
Christmas Day is likely to be rather cloudy but dry apart from some hill and coastal drizzle in the south and west. Temperatures will remain near normal. Christmas night should stay mainly dry and cloudy enough to prevent significant frost and fog. St Stephen's Day will stay dry except for spots of coastal drizzle, though a good deal of cloud is likely.
Frost and fog were evident in many places last night as air temperatures fell back to between plus two and minus three, but it will be several degrees milder near the west coast where cloud will tend to linger. Icy patches may develop on the roads.