fear sneachta

Happy New Year everyone! The west and northside of Dublin seem to be particularly affected. There is snow and ice on the ground. I missed the heavy snow shower at around midnight while I was ringing in the new year in the pub! But coming home on the night bus was a hoot! The bus had to stop half way into the journey and give up as the roads were that bad! A lot of the snow had become compacted and was freezing over and both roads and pavements were becoming treacherous. Further along the way, the road was blocked with cars unable to move and sliding down the hill. After walking for about 20 minutes, I got a taxi for the last bit of my journey and there was another heavy snow shower (around 4 am). Near my house, the taxi skidded out of control and did a 180 degree turn on the road. At least I'm safe at home now! What a night! The wind seems to be veering to a NE direction now. They're saying there won't be showers in Dublin tomorrow. Met Eireann are saying the north and west of Ireland will get snow during next week.

In Leinster, we've had some light hail showers, that's it. I think the next few days will be mostly dry and I don't foresee any decent snow for here. Ulster might have some chance for snow on Sunday.

Kippure- Those pics look like the Military Road. Do you live near there? It must be difficult trying to get around up the mountains. Here at low levels in Dublin, it's begun to give some sleety rain after raining incessantly for the past 36 hours. I can see the watery snowflakes on the window pane. It'll probably start vacillating between rain, sleet and snow by this evening as dew points fall. Imagine if this had been snow for all of us - we'd be shovelling ourselves out buy this stage!!

If there's an northerly, the north gets snow. If there's a northwesterly, the north and west get snow. If there's an easterly, the east might get a few tame flurries or else just rain showers. Dublin is jinxed as far as snow is concerned!!

I completely agree. However, I think this winter so far is the worst for ice that I've ever known. The ice has been incredible here in Dublin and I know other parts of Ireland have had it even worse. The amazing thing about the ice is how severe and long-lasting it was. It hardly ever seemed to melt from day to day, even despite rain falling from the sky. Weird! But as for snow, this winter has been a damp squib to say the least. I've had no snow whatsoever, apart from a light dusting on Xmas morning. Edit: I also think this winter in Ireland is tame so far, when all things are considered. I feel as though I've been led down the garden path with all the excitement that had been around 2 weeks ago. I need to remind myself that the whole thing was getting ramped up for Britain. Here in Ireland, the scene is very different. I'm not expecting anything much from this winter anymore.Part of me is looking forward to a return to mild weather as I'm getting sick of the miserable drizzle and cold.

It's falling as rain over the very south of Ireland.

In my humble opinion, the only counties that could possibly see snow from this front are midland ones, such as Westmeath, Roscommon, Longford and maybe Fermanagh, Monaghan and Cavan, if the front even reaches that far north at all. The rest south of this area will see rain or sleet, especially any maritime counties.

True! I already speak both those languages to near fluency actually!! So maybe I should pack up and go!

I have given up all hope. I saw absolutely no snow from this cold spell and now it's ending. It's raining now and milder air is pushing in. I'm never expecting anything ever again. I'm not wasting time and energy on what's never going to happen. Happy Christmas everyone in Ireland anyway!!

Sounds exciting. I'd say many parts of southern England will see snow again with snow showers for northern England and Scotland. This is just my opinion. As for myself seeing any snow in Dublin, I'm not hopeful. I've all but given up all hope as I saw zero snow from this current cold spell, believe it or not. I'm not going to expect anything anymore. Hope the rest of you have enjoyed your bucketfuls of snow. Oh and it's raining now by the way!

I am in Dublin. As of now, I have got absolutely no snow from this cold spell!!! Despite being icy and frosty and very cold indeed, we still got rain last night and also during the day on Wednesday. Whatever that's about.

Not Eastern Ireland, it's the east of Northern Ireland. It apears Ulster will get most of the snow, per usual! Today, the heavy rain of the afternoon gradually gave way to sleet and then there were light sleet and hail showers. I don't have huge expectations of any snow for Dublin TBH.

Imagine this treat for Christmas Eve!!

Hi John, In fairness, if you go back over the posts, you will see that I did NOT say anything to the contrary. I was actually standing up for Met Eireann. I was misquoted earlier unfortunately. If you go back to post #53, you'll see it was Ronan who said it. Met Eireann are still downplaying all of this. Maybe they're right too. Often these 'cold spells' end up just a wild goose chase, when Ireland is concerned. It's Britain that gets the real snow.

Despite that, I thought today felt cold, in Dublin even if it wasn't on paper. There wasn't even puff of wind either.

When are they ever entusiastic about anything. Their forecasters are the dullest people on TV. I think we will have to wait until thursday or friday before nailing this on the head even though i can't control myself looking at the charts. Have been so many dissapointments in the past. The thing that exites me the most is that its only December and we are in with a chance of a very cold and snowy spell of weather. God knows what January and February will bring.

I wouldn't really agree. They're often right. Ireland won't be affected as much as Britain by this cold spell. We very seldom are. I also think there is a downgrade happening and RTE are picking up on this. The downgrade particularly applies to Ireland. I don't see the cold penetrating Ireland much, with the slight exception of Ulster.

Yes, RTE seemed quite dismissive of the whole thing, didn't they. Evelyn Cusack said it'll be a mainly dry week [up to Saturday anyway] with just very occasional wintry showers near the East/NE coast of Ireland. She also gave the impression these would be just of rain or sleet, with snow confined to higher ground only. Rather disappointing. Perhaps, Ireland, per usual, will miss out on all the fun, while many parts of Britain get pasted.

Connacht wont get any till later on Sunday and early next week, if and when the winds turn to a NNW or NW direction. http://91.121.94.83/...fs-2-132.png?12 Ulster looks as though it's in for a pasting over a few days. The rest of the island will get some snow too, with north Leinster and especially north Connacht doing quite well too.

192 h. Imagine if this came off!

Don't know if you saw this!! 'Tis a bit of fun! White Christmas ahead, says postman A postman renowned for predicting the weather using ancient methods has insisted Ireland is heading for a white Christmas. Michael Gallagher, who learned his age-old technique from the last generations living high in Donegal's Blue Stack mountains, uses nature and the behaviour of animals to make his forecast. The 61-year-old, who lives in the remote Glenfin Valley, said all the signs pointed to snow on its way. "We are definitely on our way to a white Christmas," he said. More scientific meteorological forecasters would only say snow was possible during an expected cold spell coming in this week - but they cannot tell how long it will last. Mr Gallagher, who says his methods were relied on for hundreds of years before television weather forecasters, will raise the hopes of those dreaming of a white Christmas. "Predicting one day precisely is very hard to pull off, but I'm almost definite - about 90%," he said. "When the sun shines on to the (Blue Stack) mountains, and down to the lowlands it's turning a reddish-brown colour, that's a sign of snow. "The sheep and the cattle are going mad too, shaking themselves, coming in off the mountains and coming to the gate. And I noticed the other day, the fox is getting very busy, looking for hens and howling at two in the morning. "There's a hunger in everything, they want to be fed because they know what is coming. These are 'moving signs' that things are going to happen." A postman for 42 years, Mr Gallagher shot into the public spotlight two years ago when he lifted the nation's sodden spirits with his unorthodox prediction of an end to incessant summer rain. Massive interest in his old techniques and a trip to China - with his daughter, who won a silver medal in the Special Olympics - where he noted many old traditions survive, prompted him to complete a book this year, Traditional Weather Signs. http://www.independent.ie/breaking-news/national-news/white-christmas-ahead-says-postman-1973381.html

Sounds great. However, having looked at John Holmes' forecast, the temperatures in Ireland seem fairly high (in the snow context), even as late as Friday and this does concern me somewhat. It looks as though any showers between now and then will be of rain or sleet. I agree that later on in the weekend is the interesting bit.

Thanks Mountain Shadow. What parts do you think are most at risk? East Ulster and Leinster?

I wonder if Ireland will benefit from any of this snow?

Oh no, I would LOVE this to happen. It would be my dream of the century. A snowstorm it would be!