Ireland weather: Met Eireann snowfall verdict as 'high pressure system' is set to be November gamechanger

Met Eireann has published its latest extended range weather forecast for November and the beginning of December.

The forecast covers the four weeks from Monday November 4 right up to Sunday December 1.

All of Met Eireann's extended range forecasts come with the caveat that reliability decreases the further into the future the forecast goes.

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"The extended range forecast, which includes the monthly and seasonal forecasts, can at times provide an insight into weather patterns in the months ahead. However, they should not be used for specific planning purposes as they have generally low skill compared with the 10-day forecast. This is because forecasts beyond one week become increasingly uncertain due to the chaotic nature of the atmosphere," said Met Eireann.

In recent weeks Ireland has enjoyed unseasonably mild weather with temperatures reaching as high as 17°C. The good news is that the milder conditions look set to be with us for another two weeks however things look set to change in the middle of November when there is a risk of more "unsettled" weather.

And whilst snow is forecast for other parts of Europe, including the United Kingdom, over the coming weeks, the latest information from Met Eireann makes it very unlikely that Ireland will see any snowfall throughout the month of November and beginning of December.

One constant throughout the four week extended range forecast is that temperatures look set to be above average for this time of year. This means the milder temperatures we experienced in October look set to continue for at least another few weeks.

Met Eireann extended range forecast:

Week 1 (Monday November 4 to Sunday November 10)

High Pressure looks set to be positioned near or to the east of Ireland during the week bringing predominantly settled weather. There is the chance of occasional rain, especially in the west but overall rainfall totals are expected to be below normal. Mean air temperatures are likely to be significantly above normal for early November with frost-free conditions expected.

Week 2 (Monday November 11 to Sunday November 17)

Towards mid-November there is a trend for the High-Pressure system to become positioned over southern Europe enabling a more mobile west or southwest air-flow to become established over Ireland. Weather conditions are likely to turn more unsettled over the country. Rainfall totals are expected to trend above normal in Atlantic coastal counties and near or slightly below normal further east and southeast. Current forecast data indicates it will remain fairly mild with above normal temperatures.

Week 3 (Monday November 18 to Sunday November 24)

Forecast confidence decreases at Week 3 but there is a trend for high pressure to be more prevalent over Ireland than usual for November. Rainfall totals are likely to be around the climatological average, perhaps slightly higher than normal across the western half of the country. There is a trend for above normal temperatures across the country.

Week 4 (Monday November 25 to Sunday December 1)

By the end of November and into early December, forecast data suggests high pressure will be dominant to the south of Ireland feeding in a westerly air-flow over Ireland. Weather conditions are likely to be changeable. Rainfall amounts are forecast to be around average, perhaps slightly above average in the west. Mean air temperatures are currently projected to be above normal nationwide.