Met Eireann has confirmed wintry showers
09:39, 01 Jan 2026Updated 09:43, 01 Jan 2026
View from South Park covered with snow to Salthill during the heavy snowfall of 2018(Image: Szymon Barylski/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Met Eireann has confirmed that Ireland is due to experience snowfall this week.
The north of the country is expected to see snow on Friday, January 2, 2026, as temperatures are forecast to drop below zero once again.
A chilling -6.1°C was recorded in Emyvale, Co. Monaghan on Wednesday morning, and Met Eireann predicts that the Arctic conditions will persist for several more days at least.
Over the coming days, temperatures are anticipated to stay below average, with potential sleet and snow predicted for the north.
This follows a Status Yellow snow and ice warning issued by the Met Office in the United Kingdom for all six counties in Northern Ireland.
As the cold snap continues, some experts suggest that Met Eireann may need to issue the first severe weather warnings of 2026 in the next few days.
Indeed, Met Eireann is cautioning that wintry showers, including snow and freezing rain, could occur next week, although there will also be “plenty of dry weather”.
One weather expert, credited with coining the term ‘The Beast from the East’, speculates that Ireland and other parts of Europe could face “one hell of a winter”, even suggesting the return of the ‘Beast’ in 2026.
MettJeffUK, a weather enthusiast based in Cornwall with over 50 years of experience, advises people to keep an eye on February, as bitterly cold weather is expected to sweep across Europe from the east.
“As I have been saying for the past couple of months, this is going to be one hell of a #winter locked in cold for Europe and the UK, and as we head to Feb, The Beast will return, WATCH THIS SPACE! ,” he posted on X.
In contrast, Irish weather expert, Alan O’Reilly from Carlow Weather, has a more conservative outlook.
While acknowledging that Ireland will experience cooler temperatures in the coming days, Alan suggests that the country is unlikely to see the prolonged snowfall forecasted for much of Europe, including large parts of Britain.
“A snowy start to 2026 for many parts of Europe including parts of Spain but not much expected for Ireland as latest GFS forecast here shows,” Carlow Weather posted on X on Wednesday.
Met Eireann National Outlook
Overview: High pressure continues to prevail, resulting in largely dry conditions, although there may be occasional light rain or showers. The weekend is set to turn colder with sharp to severe frosts developing and some wintry showers mainly affecting the north and northwest.
Thursday night: The evening will start off dry with clear spells.
However, outbreaks of rain and drizzle will move into the north early on and gradually sink southwards, becoming patchier and easing by morning.
Further clear spells and scattered wintry showers will follow from the north. Expect lowest temperatures of -1 to +3 degrees in light to moderate northwesterly winds.
For all the latest breaking news headlines today, visit our website home page.
Friday: Expect a day filled with generous sunny spells, though there may be some sleet and snow showers, primarily in the north.
The mercury will peak at 3 to 7 degrees, with light to moderate northwesterly winds making it feel cooler near the coasts.
Friday night: The weather will remain mostly dry and clear, with a few wintry showers mainly affecting the north and northwest. Temperatures will dip to between -2 and +2 degrees under the influence of light to moderate northwesterly winds.
Saturday and Sunday: The weekend will be very cold but mostly dry, with wintry showers largely confined to the north and northwest.
Daytime temperatures will struggle to rise above 2 to 5 degrees due to light to moderate northwesterly winds.
Night-time temperatures will fall to between -3 and +1 degrees, leading to sharp frosts and ice formation.
Further outlook: The cold spell is set to continue into early next week, with plenty of dry weather on offer. However, there will be occasional wintry showers or bouts of rain.
Galway Beo’s top stories and breaking news service on WhatsApp.
Click this link to receive breaking news and the latest headlines direct to your phone.
We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners.
If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like.
If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.
