Weather experts have forecast chances of a White Christmas in Ireland as thy predict 600km of snow is set to fall during the week of the big day.
While Christmas is still just under two weeks away, the forecast has already indicated the possibility that most of the country could be covered in snow from Donegal all the way down to Cork.
Experts have warned that it is still too far away to make a definitive prediction but the charts from WXCharts.com showed swathes of purple, indicating a decent chance of snow showers across Ireland and swathes of the UK.
A detailed analysis of Sunday's data points to snow potentially carpeting areas from Co Donegal all the way down to parts of Co Cork come Sunday, December 22.
It's still up in the air how much snow might fall or how long it'll stick around, though. As Saturday, December 21 rolls around, temperatures are poised to plummet, with some spots facing bone-chilling lows of -3C and below. As for Met Eireann, they're keeping tight-lipped about their long-range weather forecast but have flagged "unsettled conditions" between Monday, December 16, and Sunday, December 22.
"Current indications are for more unsettled conditions to take hold during Forecast Week 2 as Low Pressure becomes more prevalent," Met Eireann said, predicting wetter than average weather and temperatures hovering around typical December averages.
Meanwhile Nick Finnis weighed in saying: "Our current rather stagnant anticyclonic conditions this week finally shift, with a more mobile pattern of troughs and ridges moving west to east across the Atlantic & northern Europe in the run up to Christmas. This means temperatures will move up and down.
"Eventually the upper trough could move on east weekend following next week - so perhaps then turning colder as winds turn more from the northwest, perhaps briefly north. Though by then there's more uncertainty how quick trough moves east to allow the possible transition to colder.
"May become drier and more settled by Xmas. But too far out to be sure, for now."
Here is the forecast for the next few days according to Met Eireann:
Today
Any patchy frost and any isolated mist and fog will clear this morning to leave a largely dry and mostly cloudy day, with just limited sunny spells. Staying dry for most. Highest temperatures of 3 to 6 degrees in light easterly breezes.
Tonight
Tonight will be largely dry with a mix of cloud and clear spells. A little patchy drizzle is possible near the coast. Lowest temperatures of -1 to +3 degrees generally with light variable breezes or calm conditions and some frost and fog patches developing.
Tomorrow
Tomorrow will bring a mix of cloud and some bright or sunny spells, though fog may linger in parts. Some patchy light rain or drizzle is possible, especially during the evening. Highest temperatures of 4 to 7 degrees generally in light variable breezes, becoming west or northwest later.
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