Any dreams of seeing Fermanagh covered in a white blanket of snow after years of hoping appear to have been dashed as early predictions show no sign of snowfall on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. The Donegal Weather Channel, which covers the North-west region, gave predictions of the chances of snow on Christmas day being as low as 10 percent. 

The overall weather forecast for the festive period predicts more of the same, with scattered showers and average temperatures with lows of approximately zero to three degrees with patchy frost. Current trends suggest high pressure will build towards the North for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day with an increased likelihood of dry, chilly and settled weather for St Stephen’s day also. 

The Met Office long range weather forecast states that from the week beginning 22 December there will be unsettled weather with the possibility of showers and perhaps longer spells of rain with some bright spells. 

“After a mostly mild start to the week, there are signs that the weather may become drier and quieter, at least for a time, around Christmas, with an increased risk of frost and patchy fog.” 

The Met Office adds that it seems likely the weather will become more changeable.

According to Donegal Weather Channel GFS models show a “mainly dry” Christmas day with “only a few occasional showers across western and north western coastal counties, but this is likely to change.