Christmas Day weather forecast for Ireland as Met Éireann's delivers verdict

Met Éireann has delivered its forecast for Christmas day with conditions staying mild during the day but turning colder at night.

Met Éireann says Christmas Day will be "quite cloudy and breezy with widespread showers to start and more persistent rain over the southern half of the country. Rain will gradually clear from the south through the day, with scattered showers and bright spells following from the northwest. Highest temperatures of 7 to 11 degrees in moderate to fresh westerly winds.

"Most areas will turn dry with clear spells, though there will be scattered showers in the north and northwest [Christmas night]. Turning colder with lowest temperatures of 0 to 3 degrees and a touch of frost possible. Westerly winds will ease light overnight."

Forecasters predict "dry with spells of sunshine for most on Tuesday [St Stephen's Day]. However, cloud will build from the south during the evening with outbreaks of rain developing over the southern half of the country and spreading northwards later. A cool day with highest temperatures of 5 to 8 degrees in light winds."

On Wednesday, we can expect a "wet day with widespread rain, turning heavy in places. Cool with highest temperatures of 3 to 7 degrees, milder near south and southwest coasts, in moderate easterly winds."

Beyond that, it looks like "remaining largely unsettled for the end of the week and into the weekend, with spells of rain. Generally cooler also," Met Éireann said.