Does It Snow in Ireland? Snowiest Places and Average Amounts

Ireland is a beautiful country known for its history, natural beauty, and iconic landmarks. Many tourists travel far and wide to enjoy Ireland’s breathtaking scenery and natural landscapes. So are the country’s rolling green hills ever dusted white with snow? Find out if it snows in Ireland and just how often to expect this weather.

Does It Snow in Ireland?

Yes, it snows in Ireland. The country has a mild, temperate oceanic climate and experiences four seasons, like the United States, writes the Climate Change Knowledge Panel.

However, Ireland’s weather tends to be less extreme and more mild year-round. The warmest season is summer, followed by autumn, spring, and winter.

The coldest months of the year in Ireland are January and February. These are also the months in Ireland with the most snowfall. However, average temperatures during these months are around 39.2 and 44.6 °F, so typically large amounts of snow don’t accumulate on the ground.

On average, Ireland receives five days of snowfall in the Southwest and up to 24 days in the northern midlands during the winter, according to Ireland Travel Guides. The country as a whole gets an average of about a few centimeters of snow each year.

Discover the Snowiest Places in Ireland

The coldest parts of Ireland, such as the hills and mountainous regions receive the most snow. These areas can see an average of around 30 days of snowfall annually. The Wicklow Mountains region can even experience as much as 50 days of snowfall.

Carlow Weather expert, Alan O’Reilly shared more insight while discussing the chances of snow in Ireland during the Christmas season in 2021 with the Irish Mirror.

“Your best chances for snow are always the north or the east. Generally, northern areas will always have a better chance, so Ulster counties because they’re closer to the northerly cold air,” O’Reilly explained. “The closer you are to that cold air the better the chances are.”

Does It Snow in Ireland on Christmas?

With all this in mind, you might be wondering if Ireland ever receives a white Christmas. While it’s not impossible for the country’s dreamy green landscapes to be covered in snow on Christmas day, it doesn’t happen often.

In fact, the last time the country saw a white Christmas was in 2010. During that year, cold and wintry weather began before and lasted until after the holiday.

Newstalk reports that there have been nine Christmases during which any noteworthy amount of snow lay on the ground on the morning of the holiday. These years were: 1964, 1970, 1980, 1993, 1995, 1999, 2004, 2009 and 2010.

As for Christmas in 2023, temperatures dipped and rain fell in many parts of Ireland, but it appears that it didn’t get cold enough for a white Christmas.