Northern Ireland

Republic 9/4 to see a white Halloween as snowfall looms

Bookies have given short odds that it will snow by Halloween
Bookies have given short odds that it will snow by Halloween

The Republic has been warned by Met Eireann that we could face a white Halloween as an `arctic airmass' is expected to arrive for the Bank Holiday weekend.

Odds are 9/4 for snowfall on October 31.

Although a cold snap is expected, BoyleSports has priced November to break the current record, which currently stands -11.5 in 2010, at 9/1

The bookie is also offering early predictions of 11/4 that there will be a white Christmas. Despite the big freeze of winter 2017 there was no snowfall on Christmas Day at Dublin airport, the last time snow was recorded was back in 2004.

The Met Office has said in the north snow showers may occer over higher ground early next week but by Wednesday "a spell of increasingly unsettled weather looks likely, with showers or longer spells of rain between brighter interludes."

Aoife Heffron, Spokesperson for BoyleSports commented: "We have had a unusually warm October so far, but it's all about to change as Met Eireann reported that temperatures are about to drastically drop. A white Halloween is scarily short at 9/4.

"Christmas is already on everyone's minds as the shops begin to showcase their festive displays and punters have been keen to latch onto the early odds of 11/4 that we will have a magically white Christmas this year."