Wet, windy and no white Christmas, says Met Eireann

While the storm could touch the north-west coast on Friday, its impact will be minimal.

Met Eireann forecaster Joanna Donnelly has all but ruled out a white Christmas this year for the capital.

However, what we don't get in snow will be made up in wind, she said.

Wet and windy conditions are expected on Friday, before clearing for a time on Saturday. Rain is forecast to come in again from the west in the late afternoon and early on Christmas Eve.

While it is too soon for Met Eireann to issue a status yellow wind warning, a travel advisory has been issued due to the sheer volume of people who will be out and about on Friday ahead of Christmas.

Disruption

Met forecaster Gerry Murphy, meanwhile, explained how it looks like the storm forming in the north Atlantic Ocean will pass north for Scotland.

"This is the storm called Storm Barbara in Britain, which they expect to hit the islands around the north and west of Scotland," he said.

"As it looks now its moving in the north west. It's not going to have a big effect on this country," he added.

However he said the affects of the storm will still give us a wet and windy day, with weather warnings likely on the west coast.

Temperatures on Christmas Eve and Day are likely to be upwards of 13C.

Conor Faughnan from AA Roadwatch warned changes in driving routines over the Christmas period and bad weather were a "recipe for danger".

"We are watching the forecast and it could be downgraded but even so it is still going to be wet and windy at a time when tens of thousands of people are on the move travelling to see relatives," he said.

"We have to reinforce all our road safety messages, which become of increased importance in bad weather when people are driving routes they don't regularly travel."

He said AA crews will work throughout the period to deal with any breakdowns - with around 100 on a normal Christmas Day.