You’ve probably heard the whispers at the bus stop or seen the frantic headlines on your social feed. Everyone is talking about a sequel to the 2018 "Beast from the East." Honestly, trying to pin down a ten day weather forecast Ireland is usually like trying to herd cats, but this particular window in late January 2026 is looking especially spicy.
Right now, Ireland is shivering through a classic damp, grey stretch. If you look out your window today, Sunday, January 18, you're likely seeing a heavy blanket of clouds. In Dublin, temperatures are hovering around 9°C, which isn't exactly Arctic, but the dampness has a way of getting into your bones. The current south to southeast winds are keeping things relatively mild for mid-winter, but that's about to shift.
The immediate outlook: Rain, rain, and more rain
Tomorrow, Monday, January 19, looks like a total washout for most of the country. We’re talking widespread outbreaks of rain and drizzle starting early in the morning. Met Éireann is calling it a "cloudy and wet start," which is basically the Irish way of saying "don't forget your umbrella or you’ll regret it."
Temperatures will stay between 5°C and 9°C. It's not freezing, but it's miserable.
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By Monday night, things take a turn. The rain clears out, leaving us with a cold, dry night. This is when the frost and ice start to creep back in, especially in inland areas where temperatures will dip as low as -2°C. If you’re driving Tuesday morning, expect some "freezing fog." It’s that eerie, thick mist that turns the roads into skating rinks.
Will the "Beast" actually arrive?
The real drama starts as we head toward the final week of January. This is where the ten day weather forecast Ireland gets complicated. Meteorologists like Cathal Nolan from Ireland's Weather Channel have described the situation as a "battleground."
On one side, we have the Atlantic—our usual source of mild, wet, and windy weather. On the other side, there’s a massive "blocking high" pressure system forming over Scandinavia. This high pressure wants to push cold, Arctic air from Siberia right across Europe and over the Irish Sea.
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- The Sleet and Snow Risk: Met Éireann has issued a 7-day alert starting Monday, January 26. They are flagging a "cool or cold easterly airflow" that could dominate the country.
- The Temperature Plunge: Some models are showing temperatures potentially crashing to -5°C by Tuesday, January 27.
- The Snow Factor: WXCharts has been flashing purple (that's the snow color) for parts of Cork, Limerick, Clare, and Galway around Wednesday, January 28.
Is it a guaranteed 2018 repeat? Not yet. Alan O'Reilly from Carlow Weather has been the voice of reason here. He points out that while some models (like the GFS) are getting excited about snow, others are staying more conservative. Basically, the Atlantic is a "formidable opponent." If the Atlantic storms stay strong, they’ll keep the cold air at bay, giving us rain instead of snow.
Why the East coast is on high alert
If the cold air does win the "battle," the East and South coasts are the ones that will feel it first. An easterly wind travels over the Irish Sea, picking up moisture. When that moisture hits the cold air over the land, it turns into "sea effect" snow showers.
This is exactly what happened in 2018. For now, the most likely scenario is a period of below-average temperatures and "wintry precipitation"—a fancy term for sleet and hail—rather than a country-wide burial in three feet of snow.
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Practical steps for the next ten days
Don't panic buy bread just yet. But do be smart.
First, check your outdoor pipes. A jump from 9°C down to -5°C in a few days is exactly what causes bursts. If you have a garden, those tender plants you thought might survive the winter need a fleece cover by next weekend.
Second, keep an eye on the marine warnings. Currently, there’s a Yellow warning for southerly winds reaching Force 6 or higher from Wicklow Head to Valentia. If you're planning a ferry crossing or a coastal hike, the end of this week looks particularly blustery.
Stay updated with the Met Éireann app, but take the long-range charts with a grain of salt until we hit Friday. Weather models are like a game of telephone; the further out they go, the more the message changes. For now, plan for a cold, icy end to the month and hope the Atlantic keeps the "Beast" at sea.
Next steps for you: Check your car’s antifreeze levels and make sure your heavy winter coat is clean and ready. The transition from the current mild dampness to the predicted cold snap will happen fast.