Today

Christmas Eve will start bright with scattered showers, some thundery in the north.

However, cloud will thicken through the day followed by outbreaks of rain. It will become quite windy again as well.

Moderate to fresh southwest winds will increase fresh to strong with near gale force winds along west coasts later.

Afternoon temperatures of 7 to 11 degrees, but temperatures will rise further during the evening.

Tonight

Tonight will be mild with temperatures between 11 and 13 degrees and it will stay blustery with fresh to strong southwest winds.

Rain will become mainly light and patchy and there will be fog on some coasts and on high ground.

Weather warning

There is a status yellow wind warning for Donegal, Galway, Leitrim, Mayo and Sligo.

WSW winds of 45 to 60 km/hr, with gusts of 75 to 85 km/hr, will be in coastal parts of the west and north.