Frost, grass, morning, winter
It is due to be a cold and frosty start to the new year, with weather forecasters warning that that low temperatures we are currently experiencing will remain into the beginning of January.
Wintery showers, frost and ice will all be in place as we enter 2026. One weather forecaster predicts that “colder air” may move in around actual New Year’s Eve and Day.
A “colder flow” of Arctic air may bring wintry showers, but over all, Cathal Nolan of Ireland’s Weather Channel predicts that there will be settled conditions as we usher in the new year. This may present itself as light winds with few showers.
In his forecast via Facebook, he said: “This area of high pressure is gonna remain in charge of our conditions today, largely dry, largely bright and good, crisp winter sunshine to be enjoyed. Easterly winds still coming in off the Irish Sea but if we follow their track back they’ve come in from more of an Arctic source so we’re getting that cooler feed of air at the moment. There’s no real sign of that changing as we go into tomorrow the high pressure slips a little bit closer to us.
“Generally speaking lighter winds tomorrow, still plenty of clear spells to be enjoy, one or two cloudier intervals as well, that’ll oscillate, it’ll come and go. But generally speaking, it’s a dry, settled picture, and that continues right the way up to the New Year’s period itself. The high, if anything, starts to slip a little bit more towards the northwest, and that could allow even colder air in for a period of time around the New Years period itself, as we said, that high remains in charge, it’s our dominant feature.
“Similarly so into New Years Eve itself, and indeed for New Years Day. We start to see a little of a change. We get this potentially colder flow of air coming down from the Arctic that could introduce one or two wintry showers into places as well. But between now and the start of the new year, it’s a dry settle period.
“Overall, plenty of sunshine about, some cloudier intervals as well, where we see those clear skies at night and the winds fall light, we will see frost and ice becoming a little bit of an issue as well, what we’re saying is the colder spell of weather is set to continue. But also the settled spell of weather is set to continue as well, taking us right up to the New Year period and by the looks of things, aside from the chance of one or two wintery showers for the first day or two of the New year, generally speaking the start of January looks relatively settled as well. Very little rainfall, temperatures at around of an average are even colder than average.”
Dual carriage way from above on a snowy winter daywith low light
Ireland Weather Alerts warned that temperatures this week had dropped as low as -5C. “Castlederg down to -5.7°C this morning. A cold start for many areas with some freezing fog about!”
Alan Reilly of Carlow Weather said: “Weather models show uncertainty on chances of some colder air moving in for 5th Jan with models differing on location of high pressure and depth of cold. Could be a chilly return to first full working week though!”
Follow Alan Reilly of Carlow Weather and Cathal Nolan of Ireland’s Weather Channel for more updates, and check out www.met.ie for the latest forecasts.
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