THERE WILL BE no white Christmas for Ireland this year but the Irish Weather Network has forecast a range of other lovely weather treats over the next few days including heavy showers, hail and maybe even thunder.

Today: Rain will clear to blustery showers with winds slowly moderating through the day. Temperatures will be a couple of degrees lower than yesterday with highs of 8 to 10 degrees Celsius and so will feel fresher. More in the way of bright or sunny spells with best of these in the eastern half. Another risk of rain affecting the southeast later this evening but elsewhere, clear skies will lead to a slight frost forming and a risk of icy patches on surfaces with temps dipping close to freezing.

Christmas Eve: Weather will continue blustery with heavy showers of hail and a risk of thunder in the west and cool with top temps of 6 or 7 degrees. A risk of frost developing overnight with mist or fog patches.

Christmas day: It will be cold, bright and dry in the south and east with isolated showers but more in the way of cloud and showery rain in the west turning wintry over higher ground later. Christmas day will see top temperatures of 5 to 7 degrees Celsius.

Read: Coast Guard issues warning as further gales and flooding forecast>