White Christmas dreaming could come true this year

Many parts of Ireland will wake up to their first white Christmas for many years tomorrow if weather forecasts prove correct.

Met Éireann says frequent showers of hail and snow will spread tonight across the country, especially over the south- west, west and north, where snow may lie in places.

Temperatures on Christmas Day will be very low, according to Met Éireann, not rising much above freezing.Winds will be fresh to strong north-westerly, making it feel very raw, and ice is expected to form on roads even where no snow is lying.

St Stephen's Day will also start very cold, with the risk of wintry showers.

Most places, however, will be dry and bright with the exception of the west, where rain and sleet is expected in the afternoon.

Monday is due to be cloudy and windy with spells of rain.

Bookmakers have slashed the odds on a white Christmas in line with the forecasts.

Paddy Power last night cut its odds on an inch of snow at Dublin Airport from an opening price of 12-1 to 5-2, and on any snow from 6-1 to 1-4.

A spokesman for Paddy Power said money was still coming over the counter despite the reduced odds.