Thursday night’s New Year celebrations will benefit from mainly dry weather although there may be some showers in the west around midnight, weather forecasters say.

The temperature will be around five degrees and there will be little wind, making conditions perfect for setting off fireworks, broadcaster Nos says.

Friday will be dry and sunny with temperatures of between six and eight degrees although swimmers who join in the New Year dives have been warned not to be fooled by the sunshine. The water temperature is around eight degrees.

Over the weekend, snow may fall in northern parts of the country and the temperature will drop to around freezing point. Next week it will be cold with the chance of snow or rain.