According to Carlow Weather, there will be 'perfect weather to get the walk in' on Christmas Day

No white Christmas, but snow on New Year's Day possible

22 Dec 2025, 18:57 · RTE.ie

There is no chance of a white Christmas this year, but a white New Year's Day can't be ruled out according to Carlow Weather.

Speaking on RTÉ's Drivetime, Alan O'Reilly from Carlow Weather said this Christmas will be good with "no storms, no wind, no rain".

He said it will be "perfect weather to get the walk in" and to get out and about over the Christmas period, because it will be cool and dry with some good sunny spells from Christmas Eve right up until New Year's Eve, as high pressure settles in very close to Ireland.

When it comes to New Year's Eve, he said there is a chance of colder air and if the high pressure moves further north, much colder air could move in "but it is only a chance at the moment".

Mr O'Reilly said there were a number of white Christmases in the 1980s, 1990s, 2009 and 2010.

Snow covered roads in Ireland on Christmas Day in 2010

"2010 was the last white Christmas. We used to get one about every seven years on average in Ireland but really we are 14 years and waiting."

He said on Christmas morning, there could be some frost which might make it look and feel a little bit more festive.

Icy conditions pictured in Sligo in January this year

He said that generally in Ireland and the UK, the definition of a white Christmas is snow falling on Christmas Day.

"Anywhere really it counts, but with the bookmakers, it normally is the airport, so like Dublin Airport, Edinburgh Airport.

"So, generally it's snow falling at any time in the 24 hour period on Christmas Day," he said.

Looking to other countries, he said there is a chance of a white Christmas in France where there is heavy snowfall in places and there could also be a chance of snow in Eastern Europe.